The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-14

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different from all expectations and the
problems of peace are so complex and
50 compelling that almost without re-
alization the military aspects OF the
great struggle have been dismissed. We
have been dimly conscious Of the
\ achievements Of the French command
erS, as each In turn entered a lost city
at the head of n victorious army and
the batOns of French marshals were
bestowed upon Petain and C%astelnau,
as they had already been bestowed up
on Jolfre and FoCh. Pershing has had
his generous share OF praise, and his
country will continue to demonstrate
Its satisfaction in his achievement.
But, on the whole, probably with abs
solute justice. the honors Of the Cele-
bration OF victory have been divided
between the French army and the
British fleet, and while French troops
reocoupied Metz and Strassburg amid
the acclaim Of the world, the same
audience has Witnessed the incredible
spectacle Of the German battle fleet
approaching the British coasts and sur.
rendering without a shot. giving itself
up still unchanged by battle-a spec
tacle that has no parallel In modern
history.
And so, between these two wonderful
and contemporaneous events, men have
forgotten almost completely the
achievements and the individual claims
upon our praise Of the men who made
and led the British army TO ultimate
victory after a period equal In length
to that OF our own Civil war, and filled
with the same disappointments which
the North suffered through that long
and terrible time, Yet Tor Haig and
hts subordinate army commanders there
In due some mention In the present
moment, even when the achievements
Of Foch, Petain, Castelnau, Mangin and
Gouraud are still too recent to be dull
memories. And In this article ! mean
70 review briefly the achievement of
the most conspicuous OF the British
generals.
OF Haig It IL perhaps hardest to
write, because all the burden was his
and no man knows now exactly how
great that burden was. Politicians in
the heavy blow fell upon his armies,
bringing temporary disaster, 1t was pc.
litical dictation which had compelled
him to stretch his line to such an eN-
tent that II was thinly held ut vital
points, and II was political Influence
which had deprived him Of necessary
reserves. SO much we know.
Aside from controversial points, how.
ever, certain facts are obvious, or all
allied commanders Haig Is the Oldest,
In point OF service as chief, as he Is
| believe the youngest In years, He
| CaInt 10 tnlllilhlu III lSAbt NhSti + ~
went home after Loos, when the new
British army had only begun to come
to France and the real organization
OF victory was stu to be made, The
army that fought at the First Somme
In 1916, in Artois, Picardy and Flanders
in 1917, at the Somme and In Flanders
In defeat and then In Mctory, In SUI
preme victory In the present year, was
Of his making.
Haig Earns Reputation.
Before he commanded armies tho
reputation Of Sir Douglas Haig was
made In. battle. He was the outstand-
ing figure Of the first Ypres, which was
fought mainly under Mss immediate di-
there was no one else thought Of &c
succeed the Boer veteran. In the great
Somme campaign OF 1916 the British
army, under Haig's direction, learned
Its business. II was = costly lesson
the mistakes were many, but at the
end OF the campaign tne army believed
itself superior to the German, 1t felt
that II had learned its job,
The next year the opening victory
was complete, Arras was a real achieve
mont, Vimy Ridge a genuine military
triumph. But afterward Haig's cam
patgn was manitestly unpeded as hc
Loyalty endeRvered to aid Niyelle, who
had failed and was falltne, The Brit
ish campaign was sacrificed. delayed
the blew In Flanders came too late, al
though Il began with the great sue
cess OF Plumer. About this Flanders
campaign men talk as they talked about
Grants campaign from the Rapidan &c
Cold Harhor. II was terribly costly
II did not bring immediate success,
Then Russia collapsed and the Ger
mans came west to Ptcardy, with thu
roAd made easy for them by politica
interference. Haig was defeated and
Foeh came to command, One day W,
heard the memorable appeal Of HaiE
20 his army, fighting with their back,
to the wall; the appeal OF a general (,
his men heard and opeyed. The Ger,
man wave was halted.
Men said hen that Haig should com
home, but the politicians, perhaps awart
with whom the burden OF blame rested
permitted him to stay; and after tina
came, on Aug. s, the victory which
started the Germans back from Amiens
next the success Of Buug, which for
bade TO the Germans a stand behint
Horne, which broke a portion OF tn,
Hindenburg line. Finally the great sue.
cess OF Oct. s, one OF the far shining
achievements Of tho who're war, which
smashed the Hindenburg line foreVel
: and began the last phase OF the war
the rapid collapse OF German resist
nnce.
II you take the achievement of tn,
British army between August s ant
, November IL, when 1t forced it's wa,
from the outskirts OF Amlens to Mons
you will find upon examination 1t 1
one of the most splendid records In al
military history,
am not seeking to spportlon praise
do not pretend TO KNOW what Fool
a 49,