New-York tribune., 1922-12-31
BOOkGivesHaig
Undue Glory, Is
French Belief
Critics AssaiI Work Which
Attributes the Success of
Offensive i'm 1918 10 the
British Field Marshal
FOch Is Still Unruffled
General Expected to View
New Volume on Drive
With Amused Tolerance

The book which Lieutenant Colonel j.
II. Moraston, n member Of Field Mar.
shall Haigs staff. and G.. II. B. Dewar
editor Of The Nineteenth Century and
After" have published, dealing with
Haigs role in the great war, has made
a stir in Paris. It suggests in many
ways that Haig was the real architect
Of victory in the Allied offensive Of
1918.
4, says that the attack Of August
before Amiens was an exclusivclyBrit-
ish conception. 10 also says that the
Battle OF Bapaume, Of August y. was
planned entirely by the British staff,
and was undertaken in spite Of the fac,
that Foch wanted 90 continue the fight
ing further south, on the Chaulnes
front. Finally IL declares that Haig In
spircd the directions FOR the coneentric
attacks Of September contained In
Foch's orders OF September .. thus Civ
ing the Allied offensive "a scientific
form"
French critics think that Haie's culo-
gists 20 much too far in claiming FOR
him laurels whicn have been heretofore
awarded TO Foch. The French point OF
view Is tactfully set forth by Philippe
Millet, the wcll-known journalist and
editor Of "LEurope Nouyelle." in an
article in "Le Petit Parisien." NJ. Nil.
let says:
What Would Foeh say
4What would Marshal Foch answer
if be were IN the habit Of mixing into
such discussions? One can imagine
him sitting in his Office in the Boule-
ward des Invalides glancing through
these two volumes, his pipe in his hand,
his body thrown back, as II 10 reach
detached conclusion.
Upon my word, there is some truth
in all this" he would say good ma
tu-edly.
"The excellent personal relations ex-
isting between Yield Marshal Haig and
Marshal Foch-attcstcd by very recent
letters make impossible any petty
rivalry between these two soldiers.
Just as Haig paid public tribute to the
time Of tho armisticc to the man who
had directed the Allied armies. so Foch
has always been the first 10 emphasize
the greatness Of the task accomplished
by the English army and its chief
"But there is another reason which
would keep Marshal Foch from show
Ing any astonishment. lie is still mas
ter Of the method which he employed
during the war TO maintain n good
understanding among the Allies.
THAT was not an easy task, nor an
unimportant one. A great soldier Is
not necessarily experienced in the art
Of getting along with foreign generals.
Marshal Joffre sometimes lost mis- tenn
per After an interview on July 3.
1916. in which he had vainly tried 10
break down Sir Douglas Haig'5 re-
sistancc, he said TO General Foch. in
his usual blunt manner;
~ dont want 10 sec him again.
Try to straightcn things out with
him
Marshal's Secret Of Success
General Foch was moro fortunate
that day than General JoTre. for ne
secured q resumption Of the English Of
fcnsivc on the Sommc. The principal
secret Of his success is found. perhaps.
in tho fact that he always managed 10
put his genius at tho service Of others.
"He never had any serious difficulty
collaborating with Field Marshal Hair.
The latter, nevertheless. was tena-
cious and slow-moying Scotehman.
master Of his profession as an English
oAfccr, energetic in execution, but
with less imagination than Field
Marshal Wilson and with a rather in
tractable disposition.
"When, following the offensive OF
July is, he wished 20 launch n power
ful attack in the region Of Amiens, hc
had recourse TO a double stratagem-
and perfectly innocent one. IIe or
fered 20 put under IIaie's orders for
this attack one Of the French armies.
which would oblige the latter 10 take
charge Of the operation himself and 10
use his best troops in il. lie charged
IIaic at tho same time 20 make the
tactical plans for the offensive, and.
in fact, approved tho plans drawn up
by the English staff.
ain this way he said later. with a
faint smile, T made sure that Haig
would do his uttermost' What hap
pcncd in the case OF the attack Of
August happened in the case OF all
the succeeding operations. Not only
did Foch, after serious discussion. al
low the English the benefit Of their
own ideas. but he encouraged Haig 20
believe in himself. u was only through
this impulsion the. Haig decided 20
launch, on August 2l, the Bapaume at
tack. with efectives which the prudent
Scot thought hardly sufficient
eco ahead Foch said to him. You
say that you have nothing on that
front. u is enough
"In this connection it would be in
teresting 10 see published the old note
book, with It's worn elastic band. in
which Marshal Foeh wrote down in
shorthand al the events Of the war.