The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1918-01-09
DESTRUCTION OF
GERMAN ARMY IS
NEARER, SAYS HA|G
British Commanders Annual
Report Has High Praise for
American Troops.

American Troops.
LONDON. Jan. s.--"Ths additional
strength which the enemy can obtain
from the events in Russia and Italy
already has been largely discounted,
and tho ultimate destruction OF the
enemys fiold forces has been brought
appreciaibiy nearer" Ia the summing
up by Field Marshal Iiaig, the British
Commander in Chief in France and
Belgium, OF last years work by the
/ British Army on the western front
The statement Is contained in an
official report OF Gen. Haig's spring
and summer campaigns. which occu-
4 pics twenty-six pages in the official
gazette.
The report covers the period from
tho opening OF the Arras offensive,
April 0. to the conclusion OF the Flan-
ders offensive in November. Subse-
quent events OF the year. including
the Cambria battle. will occupy n
separate report, which Is To be pub
lished shortly.
Gen. Haig closes his long report
with a brief tribute to the Americans.
HAIo PRAISES ENERGY AND
ABILITY OF AMERICANS.
During the year." says he, "the
United States has entered the war and
taken up their part with all the we'll
known energy and ability Of that
great Nation. Already many thou
sands OF American soldiers are in
France. Warm as Is the welcome they
received from the French people, no.
where will they and a more genuine
or friondlier greeting than among the
ranks OF the other great English
speaking armies"
At the outset Of hts report Haig ex-
plains how the general allied plan OF
campaign for tho year was settled at
a conference at French headquarters
in November. 1915.
The PLAN" the report says, com
prised a series OF offensives on all
other by dopriving the enemy of the
power OF weakening any OF his fronts
to reinforce another"
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 sit
uation. the requirements OF the Allies
and, particularly in later months, to
adverse weather conditions.
Notwithstanding these difficulties
the whole story of the years work IL
u steady continuation of British sue
Cesses and German setbacks, which
give Gen. Haig his ground for his
optimistic conclusion.
The Flanders Offensive was
maintained for three and a half
months under most adverse condi-
tions," says he. The weather en-.
tailed almost superhuman eXertion.
on the part of tho troops OF all arms
The enemy did his utmost to hold hi,
ground, and In endeaYoring to do 80
used UP no less than seventy eiah'
divisions, of which eighteen were en-,
uaped a second or third time afteI
being withdrawn 20 rest and refit.
MUD PROVED TO BE GERMANY'S
MAIN DEFENSE.
Time after time tho PRACTICAL,
Z beaten enemy was enabled TO reorga
nize and relieve his men and bring vi
relnforcements behind the sea OF mut
o which constituted his main protection
Notwithstanding the many dificul
a ties, much as achieved.
, "Our captures In Flanders sine
the end OF July amount to 2i,OO
prisoners, seventy-four guns and %
j. machine guns. IL IL certain that tn
, enemy losses exceeded ours.
l. The most important OF all 1,
II that our now and hastily traine
armies again have shown that the
a are capable OF meeting and beatin
u the enemys bost troops under con
u ditions which favored his defense.
70 Russia, though somo OF her lead
ers made fine effort, not only faile
to give the help expected. but eve
"a failed TO prevent the enemy froI
tran nsferrina forty fresh division
from nor front in exchange for tire
= ones used up in tho West, or from RI
J. plaoinu his losses on tho West b
l. drafts Of fresh men from the East.
s. "The combined Franco British oi
III fensive in the spring was launcnG
" before Italy was ready, and the spler
~ did effort made by Italy later wa
q unfortunately lbllNNtu uy utNclhI
I'd ments which resulted In the weakeI
OF ing OF the Allied forces In this theatr
81 In the circumstances the task OF u
british and French Armies have be-
far heavier throughout the year tina
- originally was anticipated, and Il
enemy's means OF meeting our alta,
T. was greater than he or We expected.
ng That undor such circumstances v
no. won the victories OF Arras, Nimy Al
on Messines, and the French those
Ry Moronvillers. Ncrdun and Malmalr
no constitutes a record OF which the 4
m lies have II right 10 be proud y
british Armies have maintained
. vigorous and continuous oftCnsi
throughout the period covered by u
despatch. No other example OF
fensive action on SO large a scale a
so long and successfully sustained h
been furnished by the war
"ln tho operations at Arras, N,
sines, Lens and Npres, 131 Germ,
divisions were engaged and defeat
M by less than half that number OF Br
Y. .ish"