The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-01-03
FIGHT ON SOMME
AN ENTENTE VICTORY
AM Objects Achieved, Says Gen. iiaig.
! Stopped by Weather.

detailed report by Gen. Sir Douglas
lialg, which was issued tonight ana
which covers operations from July
to November is. Gen. Haig terms
the battle triumph in which the
German Western armies we're only
saved from complete collapse and a
decisive dcfcat by protrnctcd period
OF unfavorablc weather that prevent
ed the Anglo-Frcnch forces from talk
ing luil advantage OF thcir successful
advance. lie dcclarcs that, ncverthc-
less, 1t was q triumph which proved
beyond doubt the ability Of the allies
to overthrow Germany when the
time comes The British commander
shows himself firm believer i'm the
doctrine that The entente can win the
war on the Western front.
Il desire TO add few words as to
future prospects," he says at the close
OF the dispatch, which covers 16 clos
~ printed pages. The encmy's pow
cr has not yet been broken nor is il
yet possible to form an estimate OF
the time the war may last before the
objects for which the allies are fight
ing have been attained but the
Sommc battle has placed beyond
doubt tho ability OF the allies to gain
those objects. Tho German army Is
the mainstay Of The central powers
and Il full half OF thar army. despite
all ADVANTAGES -of the defensive and
supported by the strongest fortiiica-
tons, suffered defeat on the Summc
this year. Mother victorA nor van
nuiShcd Will forget this and, although
bad weather has given the enemy u
respite, there arc undoubtedly many
thousands III his ranks who will be
Sin the new campaign with little con
idcncc in their ability to resist our
assaults or overcome our defense.
Our now armies entered battle with
determination to win and confidence
in their power to do so. They have
proven to themselves, to the enemy
and to the world that this confidence
IS justified"
After dealing al length with the
various stages Of the operations Gen
t!aig sums "n the result as follows:
Three main objects with which we
commenced the offensive in July had
already been achieved, in spite Of the
fact that heavy autumn rains prc-
vented full advantage being taken Of
the favorable situation created by our
advance al a time when We had good
ground for hoping to achieve vet more
important successes. Vcrdun had been
believed. the main German forces had
been held on the Western front and
the encmy's strength had been consid-
crably worn down. Any one of these
three results Is in itself sufficient 10
justify the Sommc battle. The attain
mcnt Of all three affords ample com
rcnsation for the splendid efforts of
the troops and for the sacrifices made.
They have brought us a long step
forward toward the final victory Of
the allied cause"
In the course of his detailed study
OF the operations Gen. Haig frequent
ly touches on the handicap Of the
weather In mid October came the
allies great chance really 10 break
through the German lines.
I'VE had at last" writes Gen Haig
reached the stage at which success
full attack might reasonably be ex-
pcctcd to yield much greater result
than anything We had as yet attain
cd. Unfortunately, at this juno
ture very unfavorablc weather set in
and continued with scarcely break
during the remainder Of October and
the early part of November.
Poor visibility seriously intcrforrcd
with the work of the artillery and
constant rain turned the mass OF has
tily dug trenches into channels Of deep
mud. The country roads broken by
countless shell \cratcrs, RAPIDLY be-
came impossible, making tho supply
OF food. stores and ammunition Sc
riOus problem. These conditions null
tiplicd the difficulties OF attack to
such an extent that it was impossible
to exploit the situation With tho rap
idity necessary to enable MS to reap
to the full the advantage We had
gained"