HOW HE WILL WIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1917, Page 3

HOW HE WILL WIN.

THE HAI6 INTERVIEW. BREAKING THE ENEMY FRONT. London, February 20. The "Daily Sketch' stales that during the recen' interview with Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, French correspondents asked, "Shall we break the German front during the coming big push," The British Commander-in-Chief replied: "Most certainly we shall; severely at many points." _ Sir Douglas continued that the West front was the decisive point, and there was no doubt the Allies would break it. The war would be decided on the battlefield, and peace might be declared in 1017.

"But," added the Field Marshal, "if Germany cannot be entirely beaten this year, the Allies will not hesitate to carry 011 the war. There can he no lasting peace without a complete victory. British troops are indomitably resolved to fight to the end. "If the enemy starts the offensive, 110 matter ■where, we are ready to receive him. His folly will cost him dear.

"\Yc are keeping our armie3 in training, our cavalry awaiting the opening of the gate, so that the enemy's defeat may be turned into a rou£ "The enemy will not be able to entrench himself, even far behind the lines.

" The first attacks of .the great offensive may be liimied and uncertain. It took months to check Germany's millions, and it will take several months to annihilate them, but we must strike without respite and strike- terribly, with the object of totally destroying his army. For the world's tranquility Germany must be broken."

"What we have done enormous, but there is still much to do. Already we have readied the munitions output we wanted. We now want more guns and railways. Wo cannot have too many guns, owing to the continuous" wastage. Regarding the railways, the di-'iirnportion between t!i<! tonnage landed at our bases and the tonnage the railways were capable of earning had hampered our operations. The directors of the English railways have investigated our requirements, and given us more than we asked —indeed, they have even stripped their own railways of the ballast, of which we were in want. "We are also supplying material of all sorts to the Allies, especially Russia', Italy and Roumania. We cannot, escape this obligation, owing to the necessity for maintaining a united, solid front. "Do not forget that the Western front is, and will remain,, the principle front, upon which I am convinced that, the decision of the war will take place. Trench warfare must give way to a war of movement, .which alone will procure the advantages we count upon." Sir Douglas Haig emphasised that an incomplete or halting peace would leave Germany able to take a further revenge in the near future. After having ■attacked England, she would he again on the French frontiers, greedier than ever for blood and conquest. Let us be.ware of the suspicious manoeuvres of the enemy, who, feeling himself lost, talks peace and seeks to divide us."