SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 177, 16 April 1918, Page 4

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

ENEMY HAS STAKED ALL IN ■ SUPREME BLOW STATEMENT BY THE PRIME • MINISTER • . In the course of an interesting review of the operations on tho 'Western front, contained in a dispatch to His Excellency the Governor-General from the Secretary of State for tho Colonies (Mr. Walter Long), and read by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. "W. F. Massey, in the House last night, the enemy's objective and the measure of its success, with its attendant cost, are summarised as follow:— "To destroy the British Army is clear-' ly his aim, He has failed to separate the armios of the Allies and failed to take Amiens, while the solid wall of the: Arras front made it imperative for him to find a weaker spot. Vimy is a stronghold which more than any other blocks his way west, and since Arras holds firm he has tried to win his way to of Vimy Ridge through Givenchy, and thence to Bethune. Although there is no sign of a cessation of the enemy's offensive against Amiens, which he renewed in due course, it is clear that his main effort was checked, his second effort north of the Somme defeated, and his fierce,, though brief, attack south of thft Somme also completely repulsed. He it now diverting attention from his main front, to which ho will ultimately return with all tho force available. A rapid rotation of his divisions is calculated to allow him to keep In reserve a. - greater number of fresh ones. The mora quickly no can re-form them the imore,. temporarily he has available, but such a system obviously has its drawbacks; and can only be carried out for a limited time. It is one moro sign ot Germany's determination to win the war in this battle and risk all in doing so. The destruction of the British Army is his obiect. There is, therefore, satisfaction . in noting that so far the destruction of his own Army has proceeded morei rapidly, though the situation is still serious. To date, the British Army has been attacked by double its number oenemy divisions, supported by an, enorniD J mass of- artillery of all natures. In these circumstances it is not surprising hat the enemy,has gained undeniable success, but at great price. In Italy an attack is expected to develop in duecourse, and will no doubt coincide as, nearly as possible with the maximum i German pressure in France and Flan""'should like," said Mr. Massey, "to cell the attention of members to the statement,, several" times repeated, to destroy the British Army is clearly, hisaim/ Ido not think there can be any doubt in the mind ot anyone .that. , it is the intention of the Kaiser to smash Britain during the next two or three weeks or months. And I think we may go further and say that if he does not do it he is beaten. I believe that to be the case, and I believe he knows it. feir Douglas Haig issued his famous order to his Army to stand fast and' stop the, enemy or to ilia in their tracks it necessary rather than to allow the enemy to advance. It is not the first time that British soldiors have been called upon in the same way, and they have never failed. I have a very different feeling about the outlook, and lam sure my : experience, is the same as that ot many others." , .. Mr. Massey said that in a few weeks Sir Joseph "Ward and he would see-the . Now Zealand Forces, or some of them, and thev would with much pleasure convey to them the affection and admiration ! felt for them by the people of T\ew Zealand. His colleague and.he would not < fail in their duty in looking after the !New -Zealand soldiers on their visit to j England. ' ~,'.. Sir Joseph Ward said that the message breathed great confidence in the* strong ri"ht arm's of the Empire's' soldiers and the justice of tho Empire's cause The soldiers were fighting m the spirit that would bring victory. They were setting Itheir I path in Hie determination to withstand the German.assaults, wi. win the final" and decisive victory. He and Mr. IMasw would see the New Zealand troons ■in the near future, and would convev to them die f-cliii" of admiration and of trust that TW Zealand had for the men eniraiH in the fight for freedom and for posterity. . ,