The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-10

sald the premier, "and the war cabinet iniy apprcved of the communication T teld Marshal Haig replied at once that threw new light on the Boulogne de- cision.
 Ine premier complained that, although IL had been repeatedly asserted that Field Marshal Haig was not consulted, Haig' rspiy explaining the new light, was nev- CT mentioned.
 On October 24, this question was first i,', formally discussed with the war cabinet. mere was further pressure from the french government and General Robert son gave his views concerning the line the British ought to take This con- cluslon was reached in the minutes of the war cabinet as final
 CONCLUSION RECORDED
 After hearing the chief of staff, the following discussion was recorded:
 The war cabinet approved the sugges- ton to the chief of staff. that he should reply to Field Marshal Haig in the fol- lowing sense:
 The war cabinet are of the opinion that, in deciding to what extent the Brit lsh troops can take over the line from the French, regard must he had to the necessity for giving them a reasonable opportunity for leave for rest and train ing during the winter months while the plan of operation for next year, and fur theTs that while the present offensive con- tinues, it will not be possible to com menee taking over more The general military policy for next year now is under consideration and will subsequently, form the subject of a conference with the allied governments. In these circum- stances, the war cabinet fear that until this policy is settled it will be prema- ture to decide fully whether the Brit lsh front can be extended by four di- visions or to a greater or less extent than this. That was communicated to Field Marshal Halg and departed frorn's
 The Premier continued: "Afterward came the Cambrai incident and the Ital- ian disaster, which necessitated our send ing troops from France. That made it difficult for the field marshal to carry out the promise he had made to General Petain for a certain extension, which was not as large as the one which subse- quently took place. It was then that the present French premier came in, and he is not an easy gentleman to refuse. Daughter and cheers.) He was very in- sistent that the British should take the line over. We stood by the position that that was for decision by the com mander in chief. We never swerved from that position.
 At last Premier C1emenceau suggested that the question should be examined by the military representatives at Versailles. and that the Versailles council should decide, if there were any difference of opinion The military representatives at Versailles examined the question: and the only interference, if it Was inter- ference, of the war cabinet was that they communicated with the chief of staff, who we thought was in France to urge upon them the importance of their case for Versailles, so at to make the strongest possible case for the Brit ish view That was the only interfer- ence so far as the British cabinet was concerned. The military representatives at Versailles suggested a compromise be- tween the British and French view, coupling it with the recommendation that steps ought to be taken by the French army to assist the British, if attacked.
 "That recommendation was to come up for discussion at the meeting of the Versailles council February l. Before General Petain met and entered into an agreement for an extension of the front to Varissy CD and Field Marshal Haig reported that to the Versailles council. No further extension of the line occurred
 WHOLE STORY
 That is the whole story. and I want to make it perfectlN~plain that Field Marshal Haig's action in taking over the extension had the fl1ll annroval