JOFFRE IN AMERICA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14285, 30 April 1917, Page 3

JOFFRE IN AMERICA.

TRIBUTE TO AUSTRALIANS AND

NEW ZEALANDERS-.

URGES THAT AMERICAN SOLDIERS. BE SENT TO FRANCE FOR TRAINING.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.!

(Received April 30, 11.35 a.m.j WASHINGTON, April 29. General Joffre received over 70 journalists to-day. Before making a' statement he shook hands and briefly greeted the individual journalists. ■ He said to the representative of the Australian Press Association : "Ah, the Australians. You have a great army. I liave ,"eeh them on the West Front, where they are doing splendid work. I would like you to tell the Australian and New Zealand paople what I think pf ithe soldiers they nave sent abroad. V know their work, their initiative, their bravery. ' They are tine boys. Hs sont tres boils garooris, tres bon» soldats."

General JofEre, m a general statement., paid, tribute to the tremendous importance of tho ./Lmerioan entry into the i war, which he believed would have •v gi'eat effect on the West front. He had been asked about Americans going to the front. He was convinced the only way was to train them m France, because the conditions m this' war were unprecedented. It was inadvisable to carry out training m. America. . If sent to Franfce and trained there they would be m close touch with the actual conditions,* therefore would/ be admirably prepared to take theft* places m the fighting line. It was of the greatest importance that the American flag should be at the front as soon 'as possible. It was inadvisable to ww at: *t till, say, 500,000 had been trained m the •States, because the transportation difficulties then, would be almost insuperable. It was far better to send small units to France when they enlisted. They should, if possible, send one division without delay. This oomment is considered likely to influence Congress's attitude ' on the Roosevelt division proposal. Over one hundred Congressmen have cabled .Mr Lloyd George uiqjing the desirability of an early settlement of Home Rule.