FRANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1917, Page 5

FRANCE

HOW PARIS WAS SAVED. STATEMENT BY LORD FRENCH*' Received Sept. 8, 7.45 p.m. ; Paris, Sept. 7. le Journal publishes an interview witlt Viscount French on the anniversary of the battle of the Manie. Lord French sMd: "After tan days' retreat and forced marches the one idea of General Joffra and myself, as well as alt the Allied commanders, was to save Paris, avoid--1 ing a decisive defeat. We passed days of the keenest anxiety. I was of opinion that we oughfto fall further tack, in order to gain time until <jtir iaeri got breath before attempting to hat the road. The enemy was superior in effectives and material. General Joffre first proposed to fight on the Marhe finally, came von Kluck's extraordinary manoeuvre of moving obliquely soiithwartU Ho was doing this when he learned that the British army was still firm, and thji French army had been formed to pitti tect Paris. "Von Kluck's flank was thus menacdfc and before General Mahotiry crossed tmj Ourcq, the Germans began a precipitate retreat. Von Kluck saved his army, bki I was astonished ha did not contrails straight forward in an attempt to the passage. The British rapidly advanced, and pressed back the enemy Bff miles in four days. Unfortunately ris brave men numbered only sixty-sevfcq thousand." Lord French added: "During 1915,, | continually made representations fbi guns and munitions. Lord Kitchener aid his experts on one occasion said this prbi gramme would take eight years to manufacture. Fortunately Mr, Lloyd George accomplished the task, to his eternal honor." ,- •,, i , THE NEW MINISTRY-V ?! ■ SOCIALISTS EXPECTED TO JOH*. ' Received Sept. 9, 11.5 p.m. i Paris, Sept. 8. M. Ribot's new Ministry is expected , to inolude several Socialists. A meeting of the party decided to participate in the Ministry if a more energetic war policy was carried out, RESIGNATION OF CABINET, ; Reuter Service. Received Sept. 8, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Sept, 7. The Cabinet resigned, and M. Pojta* care (President) has asked M. Ribot )** reconstruct the Ministry.