THE FOURTH ROUND OF THE GREAT FIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1917, Page 3

THE FOURTH ROUND OF THE GREAT FIGHT.

"FREEDOM" IN THE PINK OF CONDITION. A New Zealand officer, writing from "somewhere in France," refers to his experience in the Somme "push" as being magnificent, "and as it is with all magnificence, in war the importance of detail and the wealth of it made the grand whole possible. "After sitting in trenches for months, where we have to take our nasty knocks and smile at difficulties without a sporting chance of getting a fair lead with the left or a counter with the right, our chaps relished the opportunity of driving the enemy all round the ring. So closed the third autumn round. The first two rounds were in favor of the Boches, the third jolted him severely, but he had enough staying power to keep defending till the gong of wet and cold weather gave him a respite in his corner. His seconds are now endeavoring to revive him for the fourth rounu, and are also casting anxious glances around for means of escape. Some :>f them (Austria) would fain throw in the towel, and there seems little stomach for the coming bout.

"And what of the man in the opposite corner? He bears the scars of'the first two rounds. He was nearly beaten —how close a call history will alone bear witness. But he never ceased to smile and take his hard punches in « sportsman's way never complaining, never losing confidence. Now his face is wreathed in smiles of victory. He has got- the upper hand. He has had better training to resist and 'carry on,' and his condition will tell. See, 'he is breathing through his nose, and his eyes gleam with the keenness for his job. His opponent is well 'puffed,' and his furtive glances here and there betray „.s fear for the coming fray. And when tho gong for the first round sounds, the world spectators will stand on tiptoe in breathless silence as the heavy blows fall.

"It is 'in-fighting,' and the spectators do not and cannot see all the hajd knocks that are being giren and received. They see only that there is still tn<> smile of victory over the countenance the cleaner fighter. And the why the world's championship be>'„ -j s otl the fight to be won and lost.. Whoever heard of cutting a silver ci'.n'; n t wn fnr a drawn fight? There v.i/be no draw in this fight. It i% a tigm to a finish, and the knocß-oui blow will come if not this round,, then in a later one. 'ani its coming, and we out here.know who is going to give and who is to receive that knock-out blow. We know who has the upper hand, and we are confident."