SIR – May I first congratulate the T&A on their special souvenir of the Great War (but two battles involving the British Army in August 1914, Mons and Le Cateau, were left out.)
In answer to your correspondent of August 7, the ‘Truth of the Great War’ is not so simple. Austro-Hungary declared war to extend its empire into the Balkans, the Russians joined the war to extend their influence in the same area, France and Britain joined the war by treaty.
For the British, the war was in defence of their Empire. From 1915 Britain and France developed policies to win the war (defeat was not acceptable.) No victories? The last 100 days have passed him by.
The German Army was defeated at Le Hamel (July 1918), at Amiens, Albert and Arras (August). September the Hindenburg Line was breached. The German army retreated and it was defeated at the Selle (October) and the Sambre (November).
The French and the American armies defeated the German Army in the Meuse Argonne and at Metz. Austria-Hungary made peace on November 3. At 11am on the November 11, 1918, the Armistice came into effect.
Peter J Palmer, Buttermere Road, Bradford
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