THE ONE BIG FACT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10117, 26 October 1917, Page 5

THE ONE BIG FACT

HUNS MUST STAND UP TO IT. (From Captain C. E. Bean, Australian Prcs:3 Representative). LONDON, Oct. 18. The significance of the five great, battles which have just been fought before Ypres. and in which Australians and New Zealanders have taken a really great part, limy be lost, sight of by attaching too much weight to the fact that tho last two were not completely successful. This makes not the slightest difference to the one all-important fact, which is, thai we know the method which, given sufficient preparation and decent weather, enables us to beat the German every time we decide to attack him. The following broad view is worth keeping in mind by Australians in order to understand the present series of battles. The German cannot foil lis by any evacuation or retreat here as he attempted at the Somme. Ho is bound to stand up to every knock-down blow we give him, simply because any retreat on a considerable scale on this part, of the line opens up tho way to Lille and tho Belgian coast. Ho must either give them both up or fight holding on at any cost, whatever his losses. That is why the 'Gorman correspondents are warning the Germans that they are fighting for existence on this battlefield. The position has never been so hopeful before during the war. because the way is now clearly seen by which, sooner or later, we will win through.