"FIGHT TO THE LAST."

Taihape Daily Times, 20 June 1919, Page 5

"FIGHT TO THE LAST."

1914 PARIS DEFENCE ORDER. In the course of his evidence before the eonnnittee of the French Chamber of Deputies, which is in~.--sstigating the reasons for not defending the Briey -ironfields during the early part of the war, General Messimy, who was VVar Minister "then hostilities broke out, stated that from the beginning it. had been decided that the Gevernmelit, while retaining the general direction of the war, should not interfere in the conduct of military opera,ti~ons.. On one occasion, however, he had to depart from this rule. At, 5 o’cl_ock in the morning of August 25th. 1914, he sent the folloiviiig order to the general commanding the armies of the Nortyli-east: “If the success of our arms. is'not el‘ov.'n_e(l l'),y victory, and if the arniies have to retreat. an army of at least three active corps must. be sent to the entrenehetl camp of Paris, to ensure its protection. Pleaee aelmowlecl_2;e reerint of-‘ this orrler.” I IVith the fm'(‘Qning. the Minister sent the follmving letter:—— ’ “My Dear General and Friend.—— Herewith an order of which you will realise the extreme importance. It is that 17:11-is is to have a ;:a‘rl-ison of at least three army (:Ol‘ps in good condition. in case of a s-et-back. The line of retreat of the rest. of the army should, of course, be quite. rlifferent, so as to cover the centre and south. of France. \\''e have made "up our minds to fight to the léast. and without m=ere_v.—— Afieetionatelv yours, Messinly.” Ten days later the Paris :\rnr\" won fl?‘ battle of the (lurcq.