New-York tribune., 1918-12-18
Haig Praises Aid
OF Correspondents
I'm Winning War
General in Farewell Adj
dress to the Writers Says
That They We're Great
Factor i'm Cemcnting Allies

COLOGNE, Dec. 16 (By The Asso-
ciated Press).-Field Marshal Haig
came to Cologne this morning to make
his initial tour of inspection of the
territory occupied by the British along
the Rhine. Immediately on his arrival
the British commander in chief pro-
ceeded to the famous Hohenzolern
bridge for a meeting with more than
a score of war correspondents repre-
scnting all the great newspapers of the
Allied and neutral countries, to whom
he gave what might be called fare
we'll interview.
"Do not let us get sweled heads over
our victory, the same as other persons
did after 1870" said the field marshal
in the course of his speech.
81 wish to thank you," he continued,
"for the great services you have rem
dered during this war, which indeed
has been the greatest war in history.
know that you have displayed untir-
ing energy and contempt for danger
in following the troops in all their
offensive actions. i know that you
have done your utmost to give accurate
and complete information to the pub
lie through the great journals you rep
resent. 1t was impossible to do more
than you gentlemen have done.
Helped Those at Home
"You of the British press from the
beginning of the struggle have carried
out your work with complete success
Your dispatches have helped to give
hope and courage to our families al
home and to enlighten the public as tc
the magnitude of Great Britain's effort
in the great cause of freedom.
"The Allied press representatives
have cementcd the bonds of union be-
spreading the truth in their respective
countries, by presenting our efforts in
their true perspective.
"At this moment of triumphal vic
tory, your fallen comrade, M. George
Basset, is in my thoughts.
he correspondents of the United
States have, by their accounts of the
steady devotion and courage of the
British soldiers, tended to bring about
better attitude in America toward
the British. They have had large
share in producing the mutual esteem
which now exists between the two
countries. May. this feeling develop
and long continue!
Il have also to thank those repre-
sentatives of the neutral press who
have left the security of their homes
and who, out of love of justice and
fair play, have borne testimony to what
they have seen on the British front.
Relations Are Gratifying
I'm no previous war have the rela-
tons between the army and the press
been so entirely satisfactory. Perhaps
that is one reason why we are at this
moment standing on one bridge over
the Rhine.
Il hope henceforth that your efforts
may tend towards universal peace
universal good will and closer union
between the peoples represented by the
noble soldiers, whose deeds on these
battlefelds you so ably have chron-
icled" va
The Germans have experimental
with mild defiance of martial law as
instituted by the British troops of oc-
cupatlon and paid the penalty for their
indiscretion.
When the British issued their edct
that the civilians, with certain excep.
tlons. must be off the streets at 7
o'clock in the evening, and then, think
ing this too severe, altered the hour
TO . o'clock, many persons smiled know
Ingly and decided that the order was
mere formality and meant nothing.
Saturday night was the first time
that the rule was rigidly enforced. AT
that time some 200 civilians who were
parading the streets were rounded uu
by the military police and summoned d
TO appear the next morning for trial
Yesterday these persons were tried
and, as first offenders, each was fined
$3.50