THE DECISIVE SIX MONTHS

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1918, Page 8

THE DECISIVE SIX MONTHS

FRENCHMAN'S WARNING TO ! AMERICA. M. Tardieu, tlie French High Commissioner to the United States, in a public statement to the American people, after praising the work of the Inter-Al-lied Conference, said:— ' ",We are entering the hardest period of the )var—the richest in decisive results ,-if we know how to play a good same, but also the richest in trials, difficulties, and dangers. A strong German attack is probable, or at least possible, on the Western front during this winter. 1 am absolutely confident that it will bo another Verdun. The moral and material condition of the French Army has never been more magnificent. Please believe a man who fought during the first two years of war, who knows well his companions in arms, and who has just met them again. "The British Army is equally superb, and the American Army is increasing day by day. It will be worthy of your nation and of (he enemy's attack. They will not get through. "Put, the battle is not onlv on the battlefield; we have to make for war supplies an enormous economic effort. 1 have told the French people with complete frankness what the United States expects from them in the way of restrictions and new sa-srifices, and I have come hack to explain the necessary sacrifices France and her Allies are expecting from the United States for victory. You have already done much. Nobody knows it better than I do. You have seen my work for eight months and you know that I do not like delusions or ambiguity or conventional optimism. >. "I repeat, because it is true, that yott * Americans have to make an enormous and immediate effort to furnish men, wheat, ships, oil, and locomotives. You are able to give them to us only bv restricting yourselves severely, and I am sure you will agree to this sacrifice if it is clearly shown to be urgent. "I tell you the facts as I see .tliem. There are people in France who reproach mo for speaking too brutally. There will ljn some here, perhans. who-will i make the same criticism. I do not care. ' "The heavv war mission with Which J am entrusted (loos --not consist in saying pleasant things, but useful things. When I am telling them bean ailrl that 1 speak with full-Authority in the name of the cliiif of the French Government, M. Clemenceau. In order to come back here I made the most difficult decision which I • have had to make during my political i career, as T refused to remain in Paris : as a Minister in M. Clem?nceau's Cabin- ! et. You know that mv good colleague and friend. Lord Nbrthclid'e, lias done Hid same ami has refused to enter Ihe.Erii tish Cabinet. It is because we both be- ] lieve, in accord with our Government*, that nothing is more urgent and more necessary than what we are doing hero in direct connection with your illustrious President and his Government. But to do it well, above all things the truth must be told always and everywhere. Rely upon me for not failing 'in this duty, and remember also tha( if the war can last a long while yet. it i.; during the I .next six months that its issue will be decided. "This is why from the first day I am anxious to impress upon American opinion the objective and (he way to it. Now, let us work for victory." '