THE BRITISH ARMY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1928, Page 4

THE BRITISH ARMY

MARSHAL FOCH’S COMMENTS.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright):

LONDON, Oct. 20. Marshal Foch’s idea of the British Army is given in M. Poincare’s (the French Prime Minister) new volume, entitled “The Invasion.” Marshal Foch’s eulogises the courage of the British Army, but he is quoted as remarking that they “still seem to confuse war with sport, and they imagine that one is free to choose one’s hours of rest and one’s hours of combat; hut the enemy does not wait. It is time that our Allies changed their methods of receiving relief troops. Even Lord Kitchener, despite his wonderful sang froid, insists, and not without considerable anprehension, on the situation of the little British Army.” Df. Poincare adds that Marshal Foeli promised Lord Kitchener the aid of French trops, but he added: “(Send tvs, as soon as possible, the divisions you have formed.” Lord Kitchener’s reply was: “You will have one million men in eighteen months.” Marshal Foch repeated, hurriedly: “Eighteen months 1 I prefer less men arriving more quickly,” Lord, Kitchener later pointed out to M. Ribot (French War -Minister) that some troops had to be kept in England, and that, moreover, many of those sent to France, required training. He said he had rented buildings in France for two years. *M. Ribot was amtfzed, and he said: “Two years 1 Does England believe war is going on for two years?’.’