MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

MESSAGE TO FRENCH TROOfiC 1. HOPES OF A FINISH • Australian Cable Received Jan. 1, 6.15 pan. i London, Dec. St Lord Derby, in his Christmas Ttuwuf i to the French nation, hope* and belLvfg ■ that the coming year will Me nil troops I.ome again, having assured for the mind, the triumph of right over force. RETURNED FROM GERMANY. BRITISH HEROES OF TUB MARJtfI AND HEUGOUJSD. _____ ' V P Received Jan. 1, 6,i5 p.m. Amsterdam, the. VL A number of British officers and HM> - corns, who were taken prisoner in tin Heligoland light, have arrived from Chtf many, also a large party of men oMkft' Monti battle. The latter xecftivod * tmgr turous reception from the Hollanders The Allied unbaesadors read the Kiagfc message and other welcotnes, voicing tup thanks of the Allies for tbe self stteriSa* of the sadly thinned rearguards wUtftl enabled the Franco-British cmniei Itj reach the Marne.

The released men anxioosly aske<H]OK the war. was really going, *ad said: "Ml tlie people at home their parcels «un 3 us The food provided 'l>y tlie GtntM was very bad." The quarters for the released ffigtMUb Scheveningen and The Ilagua include-re* creation grounds, clubs, hospital*, workshops, THE INVISIBLE FORCES. OJf ALLIES' SIDE. General Smuts, speaking Is Sontk Wales recently, said:— "Germany has a war map showing tM territories she has conquered. We' Want to see the German war map become % scrap of paper. ''ltaly will be all right in tho end. -Yon will find that this grave danger that is threatening Italy may not only be ward* »d off, but may be turned into* an install* ment which will help us to 'beat tM enemy. It will not help Germany t# vietorv.

'•Be not disheartened over any news that you get. Do not lose your senfle of relative values. The invisible fotese oft the universe and the conscience of aup kind are all on your side. "I look upon this war as a great moal crusade. I believe that the nation whilst was strongest in the military sense wiH turn put to be the weakest, because it has the least moral stock. Stand firm, and I te)l you that victory is secure.*