“VICTORY IS CERTAIN.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1579, 20 July 1916, Page 3

“VICTORY IS CERTAIN.”

FRENCH NATIONAL FETE.

MESSAGE FROM NE W ZEALAND.

FIGHTING SIDE BY SIDE

Some days ago the editor of the London Daily Chronicle cabled to the Right Hon. W. F. Massey asking him to send a message of appreciation of “the spirit and temper exhibited by France during nearly two years’ war.” This is the cablegram that Mr Massey sent in reply to the request : “New Zealanders greet their French comrades with affection and admiration on this their National Fete Day. For the first time in history it has been our privilege, along with other oversea Dominions of the British Empire, to take up arms in defence of the rights of free nations, and to send our soldiers to light side by side with the gallant situs of France.

“This war during its progress has disclosed many things to the world. Pre-eminently it has transfigured the French people and revealed the soul of I be nation as a mighty, irresistible force, sustained by Divine faith, cliivairie courage, heroic endurance, and patient self-sacrifice. Illumined by the fierce light of war, France stands, as she has stood all through the accumulated horrors and outrages of nearly two years’ warfare, as an object lesson to all civilised nations. She has given convincing proof that, while brute force and barbarism will surely triumph for a lime, Right will surely triumph in the long run, and those principles of good faith, justice, and liberty which have been so wantonly violated by the robber nations of Earops shall he preserved untarnished.

“We shall novev forget those Ill’s!: tragic' days of the war, when the Gormans, by sheer foroo of numbers and overwhelming superiority in munitions, seemed to he driving all before them, leaving in their wake the spoliation of fair towns and villages and the memory of unspeakable, outrages indicted on their inhabitants. In New Zealand our warmest sympathies were roused, and we were strengthened in our resolve to send every available man into the lighting line in order to assist in carrying the war Ilirough to a successful and victorious end.

“When (lie enemy was in turn beaten on the Marne and stubbornly held by the French on a live hundred mile front on the Aisne and Yser, in the Argonno, and in the Vosges, we rejoiced, although our hearts were saddened by the sacrifices that had been required. No less has the heroic defence of Verdun filled us with pride. The spirit of La Nouvellc Franco spells final victory to the comrades of those who have so freely and nobly given their lives for (he land of I heir birth. The ultimate triumph is theirs. Their fume is as imperishable as their deeds are immortal. To France and her dauntless army, to our other Allies, and to our own British soldiers, we say, Fight on; Victory is certain! God will defend the Right. “W. r. MASSEY, Prime Minister.”