UNITED STATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1917, Page 5

UNITED STATES.

GENERAL JOFFRE INTERVIEWED. AUSTRALIANS PRAISED. ADVICE AS TO TRAINING AMERICANS.

Washington, April 29. General Joffre received over seventy journalists to-day. Before making a statement he shook hands and briefly greeted individual journalists. He said to the representative of the Australian Press Association: "Ah! the Australians. You have a great army. I have seen them on-the west front, where they are doing splendid work. I would like you to tell the Australian and New Zealand people what I think of the soldiers they have sent abroad. I know their work, their initiative, their bravery. They are line boys (ils eont tres bons garcons, tres bons soldats)." General Joffre, in a general statement, paid a, tribute to the tremendous imI portance of the American entry into the war, which, he believed would have a i great effect on the west front. He had been asked about Americans going to the front. He was convinced that the only way wa3 to train them in France, because the conditions of this war were unprecedented. It was not advisable to carry out the training in America; if they were sent to France to be trained they would be in close touch with the actual conditions and therefore would be admirably prepared to take their places in the fighting line. It was of the greatest importance that the American flag should be. at the front as soon as possible and it would not be advisable to wait till, say 500,000 had been trained in the United States, because of transportation difficulties, which were almost insuperable. It would "be far better to send small units to France when enlisted They should, ■if possible, .send one division without delay. This comment is considered likely to I influence Congress in its attitude on the Roosevelt Division proposal. | Over a hundred Congressmen have cabled to Mr. Lloyd George, urging the I desirability of the early settlement of Home Rule. s <;j . THE ARMY BILL. * Washington, April 29. As it passed the Senate the Army Bill provides for a draft between the ages of 21 and 27, and the House for a draft between 21 and 40. The difference will be thrashed out at an early conference.