ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13975, 10 September 1917, Page 6

ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

EULOGISES ANGLO-FRENCH

VALOUR.

GLOWING TRIBUTE TO MR LLOYD GEORGE. '

(Auitrtlim and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received September 8, at 7.45 p.m. : ' , ' : PARIS, September 7. o The Journal publishes an interview with Viscount French on the anniversary of the Battle of the Marne. , Viscount French said: "Aften ten days' retreat by forced inarches, the one idea of General Joft're, myself and all the commanders was to save Paris by avoiding decisive defeat. We passed days ■of the keenest auxiety. I was of opinion that we ought fall back further in order to gaiii time until our men had got breath, before we attempted to bar the road. The enemy was superior in effectives and material. Genertl Joffrc first proposed to fight on the Marne, then on the Seine, and finally came General von Kluck's extraordinary manoeuvre'of moving obliquely southward, von Kluck doing this when he learned that the" British Army was still firm and the Sixth French Army had been formed to protect Paris. Von Kluck's flank was thus menaced, and before General Manoury crossed the Ourcq, he began the precipitate retreat. Von Kluck saved his army, but I was astonished that -he did not continue on straight forward, in an attempt to force a passage. The British rapidly advanced and pressed back the enemy thirty miles in four days. Unfortunately my brave men numbered only 67,000. ' p .; Viscount French added: "During 1915,1 continually made representations for guns and munitions to Lord Kitchener. The experts on one occasion said that his programme would take eight years' manufacture. Fortunately Mr Lloyd George accomplished the task, to his eternal honour." .«*