The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-01-03
BATTLE OF THE SOMME
PICTURED AS SWEEPING
TRIUMPH FOR THE ENTENTE

I1SA ONGD fAS SWEEE lNS
TRIUMPH FOR THE ENTENTE
London, Dec. 29.-The battle of
the Somme is pictured as q sweeping
triumph for Entente Allied arms in q
detailed report by Sir General
Douglas Haig which was issued to-
night. and which covers operations
from July to Nov. 18. Gen. Haig
terms the battle triumph in which
the German western armies were
saved from complete collapse and q
decisive defeat only by a protracted
period Of unfavorable weather that
prevented the Anglo-French forces
from taking full advantage Of their
successful advance. He declares that,
nevertheless, it was q triumph which
proved beyond doubt the ability Of
the Allies to overthrow Germany
"when the time comes" The Brit
ish commander shows himself to be
confident that the Entente Allies can
win the war on the western front.
81 desire to add a few words as to
further prospects," he says. "The
enemy's power has not yet been
broken nor is it yet possible to form
an estimate of the time the war may
last before the objects for which
the Allies are fighting have been et-
tanned, but the Somme battle has
placed beyond doubt the ability Of
the Allies to gain those objects. The
German army is the mainstay Of the
Central Powers and full half Of
that army suffered defeat on the
Somme this year. Neither vic tors nor
vanquished will forget this and, al
though bad weather has given the
enemy respite, there are undoubt-
edly many thousands in his ranks
who will begin the new campaign
with little confidence in their ability
to resist our assaults or overcome our
defense.
"The principle of an offensive cam
paign during the summer of 1916 had
already been decided on by \all the
Allies" says te report. "Pre-
paration for the offensive had made
considerable progress, but the day
was confident Of many doubtful fac
tors.
"Subject to the necessity of COM
mencing operation before the sum-
mer was too far advanced, and with
due regard to the general situation,
/ desired to postpone my attack as
long as possible. The British armies
were growing in numbers and the
supply of munitions was steadily in
creasing but large proportion of
the officers and men were still far
from being fully trained and the
longer the attack was deferred the
most efficient they would become.
"On the other hand, the Germans
were continuing to press their at,
tacks at Verdun and both there and
on the italian front, where the Aus
trian offensive was gaining it was
evident that the strain might become
too. great, unless timely action was
taken. Accordingly, I agreed that
the attack should be launched when
ever the general situation required
it with as great force as might be
available.
"By the end of May, the pressure
on the italian front had assumed
such serious proportions that the
Russian campaign was opened early
in June and the successes gained
against the Austrians at once caused
q movement of German troops from
the western to the eastern front.
This, however, did not lessen the
pressure on Verdun and therefore
It was agreed that the combined
French and British offensive would
not be postponed beyond the end OF
June. -" ....
"The objective of that offensive
was threefold. To relieve pressure
on Verdun to assist our allies in
the other theatres of war by stop
ping any further transfer of Ger
man troops from the western front
and to wear down the strength of the
forces opposed to US. .,
General Haig sums up 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
prevented full advantage being Ia
ken of the favorable situation Great
ed by our advance at a time waen we
had good grounds for hoping to
achieve yet more important success
es. Verdun had been relieved, the
main German forces had been held
on the western front and the enc
my's strength had been considerably
worn down. The attainment of all
three affords ample compensation for
the splendid efforts of the troops and
for the sacrifices made. They have
brought us long step forward to,
ward the final victory of the Allied
causes.
Conformation obtained, both dur
ing te progress of the Somme battle
and since the suspension of active
operations, has fully established the