NO ROOM FOR DOUBT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 256, 8 April 1915, Page 2

NO ROOM FOR DOUBT.

SIR. J. FRENCH'S MESSAGE.

TENACITY OF THE BRITISH. A press message received via Vancouver states that Mr Frederick Palmer, of the Associated Press, interviewed Field-Marshal Sir John French at British headquarters in franco. The interview took place in Sir John French's office, which is the drawingroom. of the house where he is quartered. Asked a question concerning the ref.ult of the war, the field-marshal said: '•'lndeed, there is no doubt as to the outcome. I was never so confident of victory as I am to-day. I am as csnfident as was General Grant when he took command of the army of Potomac. He kept at it; so shall we'." On a long table in the office, Mr Palmer adds, there were maps anil reports. fcut otherwise the man who is directing tho operations of the British Army at the front appeared to be completely disassociated from the details of the worf?> The different army departments are situated in other offices in the tows. It was observed, howavor, that the various heads ef departments report to him immediately by telephone. Sir John French is looking vonuecr (ban his photographs indicate." flis bearing is ready and alert, and he sho\\v, no si»-n,: „f the strain of the eight months during which he Ims been in command at the front.

ire was asked: '-\Viiat were tlie most Important ooiitrildilinpf factors in niakinj: your retreat from Mens secure oyenvlieliniiio; odds?" "Dieted tenacity." lie replied. "Our liille army coiite-ded every foot of tlie frnmnd as it fell hack. Not mice did mir soldiers lose liuart. They understood that we liii.l not lieen' defeated, hut were makiii'f a strateirie retreat before heavy odds, and tliat all tlie pimMinieiit (liev eeiild inflict niton tlie enemy l.y coid. stuliliorn resistance from point to point was no less valuable to tlie ultimate object in view than if they were nilvancimr."