New-York tribune., 1918-01-09
Ultimate Destruction Of
Teuton Forces Nearer,
He Says
Explains Collapse
Of Allies Plans
Russia, Italy and Weather
Combined to Hinder
Huge Offensive

LONDON, Jan. S.-"rhc additional
strength which tho enemy can obtain
from the events in Russia and italy
already hss been largely discounted,
and the ultimate destruction Of the
enemy's field forces has been brought
apprcciably nearer" is the confident
summing up by Field Marshal Haig,
the British commander in chief in
France and Belgium. of last years
work by the British army on the West
crn front.
The statement is contained in an Of
fetal report of General lIaig's spring
and summer campaigns.
The report covers the period from
the opening OF the Arras offensive,
April Q, to the conclusion Of the Elan
dcrs offensive in November. Subsequent
events of the year including the Cam
brai battle. will occupy separate re-
port, which is TO be published shortly.
Tribute to Americans
General Eae closes to-day's report
with brief tribute to the Americans.
During the year. says General
Haig. "the United States have entered
the war and taken up their part with
all the wcll-known energy and ability
OF that great nation Already many
thousands OF American soldiers arc in
France. Warm as is the welcome they
received from the French people, no.
where will they find a more genuine
or friendlier greeting than among the
ranks Of the other great English speak
ing armies
At the outset of his report General
Haic explains how the general Allied
plan of campaign for the year was
settled at a conference at French
headquarters in November, 1916.
"The plan," the report says, "com-
prsed series Of offensives on all
fronts, so timed as to assist each
other by depriving the enemy of the
power of weakening any of his fronts
to reinforce another"
Plan Had to Be Modified
This plan had to be modified on a
wholesale scale from the very start,
owing to a variety Of unexpected de-
velopments, such as the Russian situa-
tion. the requirements Of the Allies and
particularly in later months, TO ad-
verse weather conditions.
notwithstanding these difficulties the
whole story of the years work is a
steady continuation Of British sue
give General Haig ground for his op'
tmstic conclusion.
"Thc Flanders offensive was main
tanned for three and a halr months
under most adverse conditions" says
Field Marshal Haig. "The weather en-
tailed almost superhuman eNertions or
the part of the troops Of all arms. The
enemy did his utmost to hold hi:
ground. and in endeavoring to do SC
used up no less than seventy-elgh'
divisions, Of which eighteen were en-
gagged second or third time aftc1
being withdrawn to rest and re1lt.
Weather Aided Germans
"Despite the magnitude of his cf
forts. i. was the immense natural cif
fculties. accentuated manifold by alb
normally wet weather rather than th'
cnemy's resistance, which limited ou
progress and prevented the complete
capture of the ridge. What was actu
ally accomplished under SUCH advers'
conditions is the most conclusive proc
that. given a normally fine August, tn
capturc Of the whole ridge in few
weeks was we'll within the power o.
our men.
"TheT advanced every time WIN aDao
lutte confidence in thcir power to over
come the enemy, but physical eXhaus
ton placed narrow limits on The dept
to which each advance could be pushed
The full fruits Of each success consc
ouently were not always obtainablc.
Time after time the practically
beaten enemy was enabled to reor-
! ganize and relieve his men and bring
up reinforcements behind the sea OF