WAR PROSPECTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 17, 15 October 1918, Page 4

WAR PROSPECTS

THE GENIUS' OF FOCH,

Sir Joseph Ward, in conversation with a Dominion reporter last night, stated that he took a very hopeful view of the war situation.- He had always been an optimist about the war; in fact, he had been reproved 'for his optimism iu the'dark days, when the day of victory seemed' very far away indeed. But he had never doubted that the day was going to dawn, and he had i?o hesitation in saying that it was dawning now. . '•' ■' "I think that the turn of events at the front is probably better even than it appears in the cablegrams, since for the last six months.the whole concentrated effort of the Allied armies, 4to my knowledge; has been directed, towards the achievement of what is now taking place. lam not at all surprised to find the Germans expressing, their willingness to accept the terms of peace laid down by President Wilson. The forces that are being added to the Allied armies, from Britain and her dominions, and particularly from Aniorioa', have made it quite clear to the enemy that our expressed determination to carry the war to , ,a victorious conclusion is fixed, and will remain firm until Germany either capitulates or receives , the knock-out blow that Marshal Foch is preparing to administer. _ ■ ' . v ''It .scorns quite clear that the proposals being mado by Germany and Austria to the Allies at the present time should not be because underlying them there'is-an 1 intention on tlie of Germany of prolonging the discussion of terms during an armistice in order to gain time and recover some part of her strength. The attitude taken up by Marshal Foch is exceedingly satisfactory and reassuring from our point of view. ■ Much as we all want to see the war concluded, a mere .temporary cessation of hostilities before peace terms were finally settled would be more than dangerous to pur csuse. It would give the enemy tirnn to make a safe retreat and re-establish himself in readiness for tbe resumption of fichtiiifr when disagreement had been reached upon some details of the peace treaty. "Marshal Foch is fight. The enemy tns to be smashed right- out on tha battlefield before we talk peace. , Then there will be no question as to the acceptance by Germany of peaco tern; 3 'that will prevent another war of th' 3 kind arising for many generations to come.

"I had the opportunity of meeting Marshal Foch in France, and I was greatly impressed by his- personality. It is needless to say that if he had not possessed extraordinary qualifications he would not have been invested with the powers he now holds as Generalissimo of the Allied armies. Alertness, ability, and insight are written on his face. He has remarkable eyes, tho windows of'the soul, and the tremendous force and concentrated energy of the man cannot fail.to _ impress those with whom he comes into contact. All , the great soldiers I havo met say that Marshal Foch is a genius in matters of war. . Tho results of the offensive he has 'directed in recent months prove the correctness of the verdict of those experienced men.'"