MESSAGE TO THE TRENCHES

Nelson Evening Mail, 19 February 1917, Page 5

MESSAGE TO THE TRENCHES

FROM SIR EVELYN. WOOD.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

i(Rec. Feb. 19, 8.56 a.m.) LONDON,,Feb. 18. In response to requests Sir Evelyn ■Wood sent the newspaper Observer a message for the men at the front. He says: "I look forward; with confidence to the issue, because I look back so far historically and personally. . In former wars our soldiers often won a battle under •brave but incapable leaders. I have served with leaders personally very brave, but who would, not risk the loss of a company. Lord French and Sir Douglas Haig have both shown qualities of heart and head indispensable to success. Sir Douglas Haig tells us of his deep-rooted confidence in the troops, which I am sure is well-founded, for all 'my letters attest the soundness l of his confident belief,.and that the troops le-' ciprocate Ms trust. Twenty-five years ago Sir John French and I agreedi that Sir Douglas Haig was our best-instructed junior officer. I belive that he, having carefully estimated the value of the objective, -will not shrink from asking the troops for any necessary sacrifice."