New-York tribune., 1918-08-28
Refighting the SoSnme


Rarely, if ever, has a general had a
chance to try again on a battlefield
Identical! in front and extent and under
conditions closely resembling that of his
first trial. Marlborough once manmuvred
over what was a century later to be the
field of Waterloo, but no battle was there
joined. In the middle of last week, how
ever, Haig looked eastward on approxi-
mately the same defences which had
barred his way when he opened his First
Battle OF the Somme on July /, 1916.
From Arras TO the Somme, save in a
little corner about Gommecourt and an
other narrow area before Albert, the
lines were the same.
But consider the difference now. In
November, 1916 the Germans still clung
to corner of the Thiepval Ridge and to
the famous Schwaben redoubt, while the
British advance up the Bapaume road
from Albert had not much passed lie
Sars. Half a million casualties and five
months of desperate and sustained fight
ing had not carried Rawlnson's army to
the outskirts Of Bapaume. and only in
November did BeaumOnt-Hamel fall.
Miraumont was untaken and remained
untafen until the German retreat in
March, 1917.
But now, six days after Byng struck,
Bapaume is reached, the Germans have
surrendered Thiepval, with all three of
its redoubts; Mouquet Farm, Martin
pul"a, Longueval, High Wood, Montau-
ban, all the positions famous in the
deadllest phase of the First Somme, are
in British hands, and the evacuation of
the whole cf the old Somme battlefield
IS going forward rapidly and under a
pressure which is manifestly disorganiz-
ing the German forces. Every days Off
clal report narrates the capture Of half
a dozen positions, each of which was the
scene of weeks of effort in 1916; Contal-
mason, Mametz and its woods, all these
have fallen, briefly.
We shall do we'll to recognize the
change in Haig's strategy. because it is
memorable, in view Of the older struggle
In 1916 he struck east from Gommecourt
to Fricourt and north from Fricourt to
Marlcourt, seeking to force the Germans
out of all the long line of heights and
fortified positions from Serre right down
to the Somme and curving about the
Thiepval or Albert Ridge, known in all
reports as "The Ridge" In that battle
and in the latter campaign Haig SOUGHT
to turn the Germans out of the ridre
positions by a fianking movement from
the south, after his first thrust had been
checked everywhere save between Fri
court and Maricourt.
But in 1918 he has worked at the other
end of the line; he has struck toward Ra-
paume from north and west of the Ancre
and hls progress of four DAYS has accom-
p'lshed more than his fighting of five
months achieved in 1916. Nor can we
now dismiss the German resistance a. =
detai! IN carefully prepared retreat
Inc German intended to halt Byng, for
period Of time at least exactly where
Byng defeated him and drove him east
Moreover, after the First Son,me.
Halg IS now re-tghting the Battle of
Arras At Croisillcs and northward on
both sides Of the Scarpe River the Brit
lsh arc already before the old Hinden-
burg line; at Bapaume they are across
the east line Oh which the Germans stood
before they made the Hindenburg re-
treat of 1917. AL the old names are
turning up again, bot where they stayed
IN the news for months they are being
left behind in days, and even in hours