"During nearly two years' preparation he had spared no pains to render those defences impregnable. The first and second systems each consisted of several lines of deep trenches, well provided with bomb-proof shelters and with numerous communication trenches connecting them. The front of the trenches in each system was protected by wire entanglements, many of them in two belts forty yards broad, built of iron stakes interlaced with barbed wire, often almost as thick as a man's finger.

"The numerous woods and villages in and between these systems of defence had been turned into veritable fortresses. The deep cellars, usually to be found in the villages, and the numerous pits and quarries common to a chalk country were used to provide cover for machine guns and trench mortars. The existing cellars were supplemented by elaborate dug-outs, sometimes in two storeys, and these were connected up by passages as much as 30 ft. below the surface of the ground. The salients in the enemy's line, from which he could bring enfilade fire across his front, were made into self-contained forts, and often protected by mine fields; while strong redoubts and concrete machine-gun emplacements had been constructed in positions from which he could sweep his own trenches should these be taken. The ground lent itself to good artillery observation on the enemy's part, and he had skilfully arranged for cross fire by his guns.

"These various systems of defence, with the fortified localities and other supporting points between them, were cunningly sited to afford each other mutual assistance, and to admit of the utmost possible development of enfilade and flanking fire by machine guns and artillery. They formed, in short, not merely a series of successive lines, but one composite system of enormous depth and strength.

"Behind his second system of trenches, in addition to woods, villages, and other strong points prepared for defence, the enemy had several other lines already completed, and we had learnt from aeroplane reconnaissance that he was hard at work improving and strengthening these and digging fresh ones between them and still further back."

THE THREE PHASES OF THE BATTLE.

The period of active operations dealt with in the despatch divides itself roughly into three phases. The first phase opened with the attack of July 1st, the success of which evidently came as a surprise to the enemy and caused considerable confusion and disorganisation in his ranks. The advantages gained on that date and developed during the first half of July may be regarded as having been rounded off by the operations of July 14th and three following days, which gave the British forces possession of the southern crest of the main plateau between Delville Wood and Bazentin-le-Petit.

They then entered upon a contest lasting for many weeks, during which the enemy, having found his strongest defences unavailing, and now fully alive to his danger, put forth his utmost efforts to keep his hold on the main ridge north of the Ancre. This stage of the battle constituted a prolonged and severe struggle for mastery between the contending armies, in which, although progress was slow and difficult, "the confidence of our troops in their ability to win was never shaken. Their tenacity and determination proved more than equal to their task, and by the first week in September

they had established a fighting superiority that has left its mark on the enemy, of which possession of the ridge was merely the visible proof."

The way was then opened for the third phase, in which the British advance was pushed down the forward slopes of the ridge and further extended on both flanks until, from Morval to Thiepval, the whole plateau and a good deal of ground beyond were in British possession.

Describing the fighting during the first two months of the battle, Sir Douglas Haig writes proudly of the "proof afforded" of the ability of the New Armies, not only to rush the enemy's strongest defences, but also to wear down and break his power of resistance by a steady relentless pressure during weeks of fierce and protracted struggle. In October the progress of operations was much hampered by bad weather, but early in November the operations were rounded off by the capture of Beaumont and Beaumont-Hamel-two places which the enemy had fortified very strongly and struggled desperately to retain. The total number of prisoners taken by the British in the Somme battle between July 1st and November 18th was 38,000, including over 800 officers. During the same period they captured 29 heavy guns, 96 field guns and howitzers, 136 trench mortars, and 514 machine-guns.

MAIN OBJECTS ACHIEVED.

Sir Douglas Haig says the three main objects with which the offensive was commenced in July were achieved, "in spite of the fact that the heavy autumn rains had prevented full advantage being taken of the favourable situation created by our advance, at a time when we had good grounds for hoping to achieve yet more important

"Verdun had been relieved; the main German forces had been held on the Western front; and the enemy's strength had been very considerably worn down. Any one of these three results is in itself sufficient to justify the Somme battle. The attainment of all three of them affords ample compensation for the splendid efforts of our troops and for the sacrifice made by ourselves and our Allies. They have brought us a long step forward towards the final victory of the Allied cause. The desperate struggle for the possession of Verdun had invested that place with a moral and political importance out of all proportion to its military value. Its fall would undoubtedly have been proclaimed as a great victory for our enemies, and would have shaken the faith of many in our ultimate success. The failure of the enemy to capture it, despitegreat efforts and very heavy losses, was a severe blow to his prestige, especially in view of the confidence he had openly expressed as to the results of the struggle.

"Information obtained both during the progress of the Somme battle and since the suspension of active operations has fully established the effect of our offensive in keeping the enemy's main forces tied to the Western front. A movement of German troops eastward, which had commenced in June as a result of the Russian successes, continued for a short time only after the opening of the Allied attack. Thereafter the

enemy forces that moved east consisted, with one exception, of divisions that had been exhausted in the Somme battle, and these troops were always replaced on the Western front by fresh divisions. In November the strength of the enemy in the Western theatre of war was greater than in July, notwithstanding the abandonment of his offensive at Verdun.

"The third great object of the Allied operations on the Somme was the wearing down of the enemy's powers of resistance. Any statement of the extent to which this has been attained must depend in some degree on estimates. There is, nevertheless, sufficient evidence to place it beyond doubt that the enemy's losses in men and material have been very considerably higher than those of the Allies, while morally the balance of advantage on our side is still greater."

THE FIGHTING QUALITIES OF THE BRITISH FORCES.

Sir Douglas Haig closes his despatch with a fine tribute to the fighting qualities of the British Armies:

"So far as these results are due to the action of the British forces, they have been attained by troops the vast majority of whom had been raised and trained during the war. Many of them, especially amongst the drafts sent to replace wastage, counted their service by months, and gained in the Somme battle their first experience of war. The conditions under which we entered the war had made this unavoidable. We were compelled either to use hastily trained and inexperienced officers and men, or else to defer the offensive until we had trained them. In this latter case we should have failed our Allies. That these troops should have accomplished so much under such conditions, and against an Army and a nation whose chief concern for so many years has been preparation for war, constitutes a feat of which the history of our nation records no equal. The difficulties and hardships cheerfully overcome, and the endurance, determination, and invincible courage shown in meeting them, can hardly be imagined by those who have not had personal experience of the battle, even though they have themselves seen something of war.

"Troops from every part of the British Isles, and from every Dominion and quarter of the Empire, whether Regulars, Territorials, or men of the New Armies, have borne a share in the Battle of the Somme. While some have been more fortunate than others in opportunities for distinction, all have done their duty nobly. Among all the long roll of victories borne on the colours of our regiments, there has never been a higher test of the endurance and resolution of our infantry. They have shown themselves worthy of the highest traditions of our race, and of the proud records of former wars."

ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO THE MUNITION WORKERS.

And, finally, he acknowledges the share in the success of the operations of those not directly engaged in the field of battle. "I desire to record the obligation of the Army in the field to the various authorities at home, and to the workers under them-women as well as men-by whose efforts and selfsacrifice all our requirements were met. Without the vast quantities of munitions and stores of all sorts provided efforts of our troops could not have been maintained

the

GENERAL SMUTS's
WORK IN
EAST AFRICA.

A despatch from General Smuts, covering military operations in East Africa for the period March 21st to October 27th, 1916, was published on January 17th. It gives the story of the campaign from the conquest of the Kilimanjaro-Arusha area to the time when the German forces were driven south of the Central Railway. General Smuts explains that after the Kilimanjaro operations he reorganised his forces, which were formed into three divisions. The First Division, under Major-General A. R. Hoskins, included the Indian and other British forces in East Africa; the Second and Third Divisions were formed of troops from South Africa, the Second being under MajorGeneral Van Deventer, and the Third under Major-General Coen Brits. The second South African Brigade did not, however, reach East Africa until May, and was not ready to take the field until the latter half of June.

But

The despatch details the various operations undertaken by these three divisions. Their work was hampered by immense difficulties other than the opposition of the enemy-heavy wastage of men and horses through sickness, and great difficulties of supply. against these and against the enemy they battled so successfully that, on October 27th, General Smuts was able to record that "with the exception of the Mahenge plateau, they [the enemy] have lost every healthy or valuable part of their colony." General Smuts writes in the highest appreciation of the men who served under him. "The plain tale of their achievement," he says, "bears the most convincing testimony to the spirit, determination, and prodigious efforts of all ranks. Their work has been done under tropical conditions, which not only produce bodily weariness and unfitness, but which create mental languor and depression, and finally appal the stoutest hearts. To march day by day, and week by week, through the African jungle or high grass, in which vision is limited to a few yards, in which danger always lurks near but seldom becomes visible, even when experienced, supplies a test to human nature often in the long run beyond the limits of human endurance. And what is true

of the fighting troops applies in one degree or another to all the subsidiary and administrative services. The efforts of all have been. beyond praise, the strain on all has been overwhelming."

LORD FRENCH ON
HOME DEFENCE.

Lord French, as Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces, on December 31st addressed a despatch to the Secretary for War on the work of his command since he undertook its reorganisation. The rebellion in Dublin was the subject of a special despatch dated May 29th, 1916, and here Lord French notices that event only in passing. "Both in England and in Ireland the military arrangements for its suppression proved everywhere adequate, and

reflect great credit on all concerned." The chief matter discussed in the despatch is the development of the Anti-Aircraft Defence. In February Lord French was made responsible for the whole of the Anti-Aircraft Defence, not only of London, but of the United Kingdom. He prepared a scheme which was approved by the Army Council, and has since been not only carried out, but put to the test. Nineteen raids have been made by German airships and seventeen attacks by German aeroplanes. Lord French says:

"The damage done has been comparatively small, and nothing of any military importance has been effected.

Taken as a whole, the defensive measures have been successful. In very few cases have the enemy reached their objective. They have been turned, driven off, seriously damaged by gunfire, and attacked with great success with aeroplanes. Seven have been brought down, either as the result of gunfire or aeroplane attack, or of both combined.

"The work of the Royal Flying Corps and of the Gun and Light Detachments, including the Royal Naval Anti-Aircraft Corps, has been arduous, and has shown consistent improvement: the guns and lights have been effectively handled, and the pilots of the Royal Flying Corps. have shown both skill and daring. All are deserving of high praise.

Close co-operation with the Navy has been maintained, and the R.N.A.S., by their constant and arduous patrol work on the coast and overseas, have shared in successful attacks on the enemy."

Writing about other matters, Lord French mentions the great and continuous strain of training troops for overseas, and says the country owes a special debt of gratitude" to a great number of senior retired officers, who although by their age and services they had earned an honourable rest-came forward to perform whatever duties might be required of them until serving officers were available.

VOLUNTEERS AND
TERRITORIALS.

The King has appealed to the Lords Lieutenant of Great Britain to assist in the organisation and equipment of a Volunteer Force as defenders of these shores in case of invasion." The new Force is required to take over the duties of the Territorials "now fighting the battles of the Empire abroad," and it will be formed of volunteers of all ages. The King's letter, dated January 27th, said:—

"In 1907 my father summoned to meet him the Lords Lieutenant of Great Britain, and enjoined on them the duty of assisting to the utmost of their powers the Territorial Force then in process of formation.

"How well they responded to the appeal, and with what enthusiasm it was met throughout the country, has been clearly shown by the deeds of my Territorial soldiers in every theatre of war.

Originally intended for Home Defence, the Territorial divisions have in France, Gallipoli, Egypt, and Mesopotamia fought shoulder to shoulder with my Regular Army. They have proved themselves their equals in courage and fortitude, and superior to the best troops of the

enemy.