The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-06-26
HAIG AMAZED AT VICTORY.
British General Says Miraculous Is
the Only Descriptive Word.


presents an important review of the
war and describes in detail the ex'
pansion and achievements of the Brit
ish army, with many remarkable
facts and figures. He treats the op'
erations on the western front as a
single continuous campaign, in which
can be recognized the same general
features aud necessary stages that,
between forces of approximately
equal strength, have marked all the
conclusive battles of history.
THE high water mark of our fight
ing strength in infantry" says the
British commander, "was only reach
ed after two and half years of con-
flict, by which time heavy casualties
had already been incurred. 1t was
not until midsummer, 1916, that the
artillery situation became even ap-
proximately adequate to the conduct
of major operations.
During the Somme battle artillery
ammunition had to be watched with
the greatest care. During 1917 am
munition was plentiful, but the gun
situation caused anxiety. It was only
in 1918 that artillery operations
could be conducted without any limit
ing consideration beyond that Of
transport.
ttThe margin with which the Ger
man onrush Of 1914 was stemmed
was so narrow and the subsequent
struggle was so severe that the word
miraculous is entirely inadequate to
describe the recovery and ultimate
victory of the allies.
!. t'The breakdown of Russia in 1917
probably prolonged the war by
year, and the military situation in
Italy in the autumn of 1917 necessi-
tated the transfer of five British di-
visions to Italy at time when their
presence in France might have had
far-reaching effects
Sir Douglas records the interesting
fact that more than half the British
casualties in the fighting of 1918 oc-
Cured during the five months from
March to July, when the allies were
on the defensive.
"The rapid collapse Of Germany's
military powers in the latter half of
1918 was the logical outcome of the
fighting of the previous two years.
1t would not have taken place but
for that period of ceaseless attrition,
which used up the German reserves.
: It is in the great battles of 1915 and
1917 that all have to seek for the Sc
cret of our victory in 1918"
s, The value of cavalry in modern
war is emphasized by Sir Douglas
Haig, and, in discussing the value Of
mechanical contrivances such as
tanks, he observes that, immense as
their influence might have been, they
could not by themselves decide
campaign. Their true role is to as
sist infantrymen by whose rifles and
bayonets only can decisive victory be
won.
The expansion of British person
mel, artillery, ammunition, transport,
railway construction, and establish
ments of every kind in France is
4dwelt upon by the field marshal. Re-
garding machine guns, the British
equipment increased from one gun to
500 infantrymen in 1914 to one to
20 lnfantrymen in 1918. The 4S6
pieces of artillery with which the
British took the field in 1914 we're
represented at the date of the ar
mistice by 6,497.
= On the first day of the Somme bat
tie in 1916 nearly $4,000 tons of ar
tillery ammunition we're fired by the
British on the western front. On two
days, September 20 and 21, 1917,
$4,000 tons were expended, and in
the three days of the crucial battle
Of September 81, % and 20, 1913,
nearly $4,000 tons were fired by the
British artillery.
Sir Douglas Haig says that the
feature of the war which to the his
torian may we'll appear most note
worthy is the creation of the new
British army, which was successfully
built up in the very midst of the war.
'The total of more than $4,000
German prisoners captured by us on
the western 'front.'" says Sir Douglas,
els in striking contrast to the force
Of six divisions, comprising some So
600 fighting men, with which we en-
tered the war. That we should have
been able to accomplish this stipend
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