DAY WILL DAWN.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 April 1918, Page 3

DAY WILL DAWN.

A MAN WHO KNOWS FOCH.

SUPREME CONFIDENCE IN ALLIED CAUSE,

“I know Foch, monsieur. He will save us. For me, I do not despair. I hope, lam certain. If there be any pity it is that we did not have a generalissimo one-two years ago. There is no man, no soldier, better qualified to direct the fortunes of all our allies;' none other in whom the army of France will have more confidence. There may be others equally well able to direct. There is your General Haig—a great commander. But the choice has fallen on General Foch, and he will carry the terrible burden nobly.”

In halting English, and with many a lapse into his native idiom. Commandant Albert Ga'renne, the new Governor of the New Hebrides, thus declared his invincible faith in the success of the Allied cause. Commandant Garenne is one well qualified to speak with the voice of authority. With an extensive experience in French colonial campaigns, he has seen the terrible glory of the fighting about Verdun. He has fought through the French campaigns on the Somme. For his deeds he bears the crimson bar of the Legion of Honour of the second order, and that is but the chief among his decorations. Today he passes through Sydney to take up the command of all the French forces in the Pacific.

The news of the present fighting moves him, but does not distress him. 'Always before his eyes is the figure of Foch. In the latter’s genius fie pins all his faith with a valorous patriotism. “You see.” he says, “there has to be the one man in supreme command. By other means we court only failure, fighting a foe directed by the one man to the one end. This is a matter upon which we must surety now be all agreed when we read the new? the journals are printing. It is really the first news I have had for some little time. It is to be read with tears. Your English, your Australian, and your American fighting men are performing deeds of the highest valour. But the tears I feel will soon give way to smiles of joy when we learn that the day has turned in our favour. When that does happen the wisdom of General Foch will be appreciated by all. The sacrifice maybe has yet to be great. Still we must be confident. And, monsieur, for what are we fighting? Is there no inspiration in that?

Here this man of small stature but great faith pauses, draws himself together. Then “I have seen it with my eyes. It has been it is my blood. Verdun . . . Verdun, monsieur. Yes, let us remember and let us hope. The day will dawn.”