NO ROOM FOR DOUBT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15885, 5 April 1915, Page 6

NO ROOM FOR DOUBT.

SIR J. FRENCH'S MESSAGE.

TENACITY OF THE BRITISH.

A press message received via Vancouver states that Mr. Frederick Palmer, of the Associated Press, interviewed Feld-Marshal Sir John French at British headquarters in France. The interview took place in Sir John's office, which is the drawingroom of the house where he is quartered. Asked a question concerning the result of the war, the field-marshal said: " Indeed, there is 110 doubt as to the outcome.

I was never so confident of victory as I am to-day. I am as confident as -was General Grant when he took command of the army of Potomac. He kept at it; so shall we."

On a long table in the office, Mr. Palmer adds, there were maps and reports, but otherwise the man who is directing the operations of the British Amy at the front appeared to be completely disassociated from the details of the work. The different army departments are situated in other offices in the town. It was observed, however, that the various heads of departments report to him immediately by telephone. Sir John French is looking younger than his photographs indicate. His bearing is ready and alert, and he shows no signs of the strain of the eight months during which lie has been in command at the front.

He was asked: "What were the most important contributing factors in making your retreat from Mons secure against overwhelming odds?" "Dogged tenacity," he replied. "Our little army contested every foot of the ground as it fell back. Not once did our soldiers lose heart. They understood that wo had not been defeated, but were making a strategic retreat before heavy odds, and that all the punishment they could inflict upon the enemy by cool, stubborn resistance from point to point was no less valuable to the ultimate object in view than if they were advancing."