disparagement of the
gallant deeds performed on other fronts to say that, in the stubborn
struggle for the line of hills which stretches from Wytschaete to
Passchendaele, the great armies that to-day are shouldering the burden
of our Empire have shown themselves worthy of the regiments which, in
October and November of 1914, made Ypres take rank for ever amongst the
most glorious of British battles" (Sir D. Haig's Dispatch, December 25,
1917). "The British infantryman has always had the reputation of
fighting his best in an uphill battle, and time and again in the
history of our country, by sheer tenacity and determination of purpose,
has won victory from a numerically superior foe. Thrown once more upon
the defensive by circumstances over which he had no control, but which
will not persist, he has shown himself to possess in full measure the
traditional qualities of his race" (Sir D. Haig's Dispatch, July 20,
1918). "Throughout this long period of incessant fighting against
greatly superior numbers the behaviour of all arms of the British
forces engaged was magnificent. What they achieved is best described
in the words of the French General (Maistre) under whose orders they
came, who wrote of them: 'They have enabled us to establish a barrier
against which the hostile waves have beaten and shattered themselves.
Cela aucun des temoins francais ne l'oubliera'" (Sir D. Haig's
Dispatch, December 21, 1918).

After four years of fighting, at the close of a defensive campaign of
the utmost severity, protracted by the efforts of the enemy from March
21-July 17, 1918, the New Armies passed from the guard to the thrust.
They were everywhere victorious, and in nine pitched battles they
captured upwards of 175,000 prisoners and 2,600 guns.

"In order to estimate the ardour and endurance of these troops during
this final stage, it will be enough to mention the dates and importance
of the main events--

{21}

"_Battle of Amiens_ (Aug. 8-13) in which the IV. Army took 22,000
prisoners and more than 400 guns.

"_Battle of Bapaume_ (Aug. 21-Sept. 1) III. Army and Left Wing of IV.
Army: 34,000 prisoners, 270 guns.

"_Battle of the Scarpe_ (Aug. 26-Sept. 3) I. Army: 16,000 prisoners,
200 guns.

"_Battle of Haerincourt and Epehy_ (Sept. 12-18) IV. and III. Armies:
12,000 prisoners, 100 guns.

"_Battle of Cambrai and the Hindenburg Line_ (Sept. 27-Oct. 5) IV.,
III., and I. Armies. Ended in the breaking of the Hindenburg Li