LETTER FROM GENERAL GODLEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1917, Page 3

LETTER FROM GENERAL GODLEY.

•'THE BfiCHE IS ABSOLUTELY BEATEN." Communications recently received in Wellington from General Sir Alexander Godlov show liis -high appreciation of tlie qualities of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces undor liis command. In a letter received by Colonel G-. F. C. Campbell, Coast Defence Commander, from General Godley, lie says that "tlie troops of the Dominion lia\e done magnificently. and it is not too much to say that, barring perhaps the Guards Division. the New Zealand Division is looked upon as just as good as any division in France." "I also hear," lie adds, ''golden opinions of the Mounted Rifle Brigade in Egypt from General Chetwode, who commands the cavalry out there."'

.Speaking of the third battle of Ypres, General Godley sayo that "it began splendidly, but the weather interfered very greatly with the operations. If it had only rained for a'few days it would have been all right, but it was so persistent- and so heavy that the whole country was converted into a morass, which made operations impossible, and gave time to the Boehe to complete his wiring, to bring up reinforcements and guns, strengthen his blockhouses, strong points, etc., and generally to pull himself together. This meant starting afresh without all the roads and railways and necessary paraphernalia to give us as good a start as at first." General Godley speaks in very eulogistic terms of the military service system of New Zealand, and the methods of carrying it out, and expresses the opinion that Australia must follow suit.

Dealing with the position at the front, General Godley states that "the whole 'liiestion now is one of man-power; and the Boclie is absolutely beaten, and he knows it. But unless* we can produce enough men, and keep hammering at him. and driving him back, the war will still go on for a long time. The tone of the Boehe writings and speeches is entirely different now from what it was."

The New Zealand Artillery, he says, continues to do excellent work. The strain is beginning to tell on a good many of the officers. Speaking of himself, lie adds that he is just going out of the line for a little rest, and will not be altogether sorry, a 5 it will be the first, time that he has been anywhere except in the front lines since lie left Alexandria for Lemnos in April, Ifllo. In a letter received by Colonel Campbell from General Chavtor. commanding the New Zealand Mounted Rifles in Palestine, lie forecasts the present advance. He states that when the Turkish front at Gaza is broken, "the cavalry jvould have the best show of modern times." alluding to the suitability of the country for eavalrv operations. The succesful advanee that is now taking place seems to affirm the opinion expressed. 1