READY FOR THE CRISIS.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 June 1918, Page 3

READY FOR THE CRISIS.

FRANCE'S UNBEATEN ARMY AUSTRALIAN'S TRIBUTES. LONDON, June 10. Australians are offering their French comrades in the trenches sundry undemonstrative tributes of esteem for the magnificent figtt they put up against the recent terrific German onslaught south of the Aisne. It is evident that the Germans are again beaten to a standstill, and, except for he British handful 'near Rheims, the full brunt of, this drive was borne by French troops, fighting rearguard actions back to the reserves. The Germans were brought to a halt'at the Marne, as at Albert and Meteren, and have failed to force the allies to relinquish their combined plan—still failed to drain the allied army of its reserves.

Australian officers who earlier this year were privileged to visit the French armies returned impressed in the highest degree not only with the soldierly qualities of the French infantry, but with the skill of the French highest military command, which, during these four years of war, when the Freuch were supposed to have been "bled white," conserved and nursed France's man-power against just a supreme crisis. The verdict of these officer is now being justified. Unquestionably the French are not "bled white,'' as the German propaganda has proclaimed. The maturer classes have been called up, but they are still weir ahead of the Germans, an increasing proportion of whose fighting troops are mere boys. The Australians behind the lines during the last two months have frequently seen magnificent French divisions containing fighting men of such quality as makes it hard to believe that this country has been battling for its very existence for nearly four years. These soldiers are in the prime of life, in splendid physique, and at the top of their form. Australians and villagers alike turned out to cheer .somo of them quartered near as they vwent singing down the roads towards 1 the south, decorated with the first i summer flowers. It was very plain, I-both in numbers and in quality, that they were not the last combed-out rem'nants of a destituted, white'-bled country. The French Army is still whole, strong, and utterly unbeaten.