FRANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1917, Page 5

FRANCE.

NEW FRENCH CABINET. MINISTERIAL DECLARATION. CONFIDENCE IN FRiTSH SPRING. Paris, March 21. M. Ribot visited and read the Ministerial declaration in the Chamber and Senate respectively. He said: "We have entered on the deceive period of the terrible war. The Allies are partaking in the first retirement of the enemy caused by the pressure of our admirable troops.' Although the retirement is only the prelude to further rough battle?, in which the enemy will spend his last efforts, France jeels confident in making a fresh spring from the results due to "the clever strategy of the Allied leaders. "The question of the high command in France has given rise to many debates, ahd is now definitely settled". The Government is to be master of all that concerns the organisation and maintenenance of the armies, and when the Government has chosen a leader, it will leave him complete freedom for the strategic conception, preparation and direction of operations." M. Ribot continued: "The French and the Allies' effectives are superior to those of the enemy. We can fight on an equal footing as long as the necessity demands. We hail the work of emancipation of the noble Russian people, carrying out the hope of development of republican institutions founded upon popular sovereignty and completed without violence. NO IMPORTANT EVENTS. Received March 22, 11 p.m. London, March 22. A wireless German official message states: Apart from the engagements on the Somme and the Oise there are no •events of importance to record.