Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1918. FOCH'S CONFIDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1820, 30 April 1918, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1918. FOCH'S CONFIDENCE.

IX an interview given to the X'ew York Times before (be opening of the German oft'ensive, (leneral Foeb, who is now generalissimo of the allied armies in France, said be absolutely refused (o believe that there was any possibility of the Bermans piercing the allies’lines on the western front. The allied organisation is superior to-day in reserves, whieh have been greatly increased and arc much more easily handled, and the allies have an abundance of guns; munitions,, and aeroplanes. Their superiority in artillery over (he enemy is umpiestioned, and their moral is much belter than it has ever been. The German troops, on the other hand, are notably inferior to those of the early days of the war. General Fueh denies absolutely the rumour that the Germans have a new gas against whieh the allies’ gas-masks would he inellicient. As regards tanks, he points out that, though the enemy will undoubtedly have tank machines, the allies have so much more experience in manoeuvring tanks that the advantage on this score must rest with them. General Foch pointed out that mere numbers do not make necessarily for superiority, and insisted that Germany would never again have the numerical superiority that she once enjoyed on the Yscr, when the allies were lighting against odds of three or four to one, and were for practical purposes without artillery or munitions. He insists that on the Italian front there is now no danger to fear. He is convinced that the Italian Army is quite capable of holding its own, and pointed out that if it were necessary Italy would be able to apply for assistance either to England or France. Not merely is Italy strong in a military sense, but the national moral is excellent. To win the war, General Foeh added, we must have a great American army.