FRENCH HIGH COMMAND OPTIMISTIC.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 28 March 1918, Page 5

FRENCH HIGH COMMAND OPTIMISTIC.

"WE NOW KNOW THE WORST."

LONDON, March 26. .^f 16 -Daily Chronicle's correspondent with the French armies says the French •Higher Command is satisfied, even optimistic, as regards the position. The correspondent adds that it may be taken we now know the worst and the enemy s utmost possible strength has been put into the first blow. The are holding strongly in the Uise valley, and are in safe liaison with the British on the Somme. "It is in the nature of the case that I cannot state the grounds of the optimism of the French Higher Command." + i, ™thx lrd °. f the German forces on i-M.rt 68?!? fJ° nt are engaSed on oneeighth of the front. Possibly a secondary offensive may be declared, but, judging by the result of the first blow there is nothing resembling a break

+i. ! hf^eve the hour is at hand when the Allied commanders will give yon Hmdenburg a lesson in the art of war worthy or the Marne and Verdun, and perhaps I am influenced by the sight ot the masses of troops moving around ?onfid aeTc e ?' them bGing n°thln S but