Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-03-06

time Il was on the last day OF No
vcmber that the triumph began to
give way To disaster.
AT tho northern end Of the Bo-
navis ridge and IN the GOnneilieu
sector" the commhpder relates.
"the swlftneks with which the Ad-
vance of the enemy'a infantry fol-
lowed the opening OF his lombard.
m6nt appears Ia have overwhelmed
our troops. both In the line and the
Immediate support. almost before
they had realized the attack had
begun. The nature Of the bonn
hardmcnt. which seems to have been
heavy enough 60 keep our men un-
der cover without at first seriously
alarming them. contributed 20 the
success of the onemys plans. II was
only when tho attack was upon
them that great numbers OF low fly
Ina German Airpianos rained much
gun fire upon our Infantry"
In short, there is little doubt that
altho an attack was expected gem
orally, yet In those areas Of thu bat
tie at the moment Of It's delivery
the assault effected a local surprise -
Courage u Displayed.
TlcW the advance was ste ,umed and
the heroism displayed by tho bodies
OF British troops who sacrificed
themselves to give time for the or
ganlEation OF the defense behind
them has been already told Field
Marshal raiR does full justice 10 the
courage and skin displayed In this
CriHlh lie continued
The strength the enemy had
shown himself able 20 develop In
his attacks made II evident that only
by prolonged and severe fighting
could hope TO establish my right
flank on Honnvla ridge, Unless this
was done the situation Of my troops
IN the salient north of F1eaquieres
would he difficult and dangerous,
even n our hold on Burlon hill were
extended. had therefore. 10 dc
eide either 90 embark on another OF.
fenHlye battle on a large scale or 90
withdraw to a moro compact line on
FlcsluiercE ridge.
"Altho this declvon Involved the
giving up OF IMPORTANT positions.
most calamity won. / had no doubt
20 the correct course under the con
ditions."
Field Marshal tIaig notes that the
withdrawal was completed sucoess-
fully without interference from the
enemy on the morning OF Decem-
ber 7,
Summarizing the results OF the
three weeks fighting the field mar
shal says y
Iiais Summarizes.
There In little doubt that our OPP
eratlons we're OF considerable indi-
rect assistance TO the allied forces
In Italy. Large demands were made
upon tho available German reserves
at = time when great concentra-
ton Of German divisions intended
foi the Italian theater we're 1lyerted
10 the Cambrai front and Il is prob
able that u further concentration OF
German forces against Italy was sus-
pended for at least two wee Is at y
most critical period when our allies
were making their first stand ON the
pinye line"
Had Field Marshal HalK not met
with a check which compelled him
10 abandon part of the captured ter
ritory, What he might have accomp-
! shed he thus discioses.
my Intentions AN regards Hubse-
qnent exploitation were TO push
westward and northeastward. taking
the llindenburg line In the reverse
from Meuyrea to the river scarpe
and capturing all the enemy's de-
fenses and probably most OF his gar
risous lyins west OF line from
Cambrat northwarda 10 the sensoe
AMI south OF that river AMI tho
bcarpe.
Tune would have been requlre',
10 enable US to develop and com
plete the operation. but the pEos.
pccts OF gaining thee necessary time
were, IN my opinion, good enough
TO Justify the attempt 10 execute the
plan. ! am OF tho opinion that on
the 2oth and 2lW Of November We
went very near 10 success sufficiently
complete TO bring the realisation OF
our full program within our power"