ALLIED ATTACK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14586, 23 April 1918, Page 3

ALLIED ATTACK.

DUE IN FEW DAYS. STATEMENT BY SIR JOSEPH WARD. "In this peaceful country, opening tin's new post office out at Heretaunga. none of us would bo inclined to say thnt the present and most awful %var in the history of the world was raging,'' sa.id Sir Joseph Ward on Saturday afternoon, "raging- in" defence of ri»ht and freedom and for the betterment of the people that are to come in the future. — (Applause.) — The news of the war that comes forward, even to-day (lie added) is of a fluctuating nature, I think we are .ill boundto realise that in Una unprecedented battle, or series of battles, there must be many and constant fluctuations. (Hear, hear.) But I am glad to be able 'to say that it is expected that within the next fortyeight hours, or, maybe, three days, the combined troops of Britain, France, and their Allies, under the united system of control and direction, will commence in earnest fighting against the enemy — counter-attacking. (Applause.) So we may assume, with a great deal of reliance upon the men who are waging this war for us, that this receding before the enemy for the past fortnight or so ha« not been done inadvisedly. ■ Even fo, the pressure on parts of the front has been overwhelming ; but this news that has come to hand is evidence that the reinforcements necessary for our troops are . . gathering up, and they will be available when this event, of which I was advised this morning, is about to take place 1 . (Applause.) We have the most supreme reliance, upon the courage and grit and inflexible determination uf the men of Britain, of the Overseas Dominions, .and of the Allies,, who are standing for liberty and justice and civilisation throughout the world. (Applause.) They are going through very considerable trials, but we look forward confidently to our final triumph, to the j time when, as Mr. McAdoo. the Ameri- ! can Secretary of. State, said the other day, the AmeT\cat\ flag and tbe flags ol the Allies will fly over Berlin. (Applause.) They have had difficulties at Home,, but things are now hardening up ; and that is shown by the splendid way in whiah the miners of Cornwall ftm\ '-South Wales are rallying to the flag 1 . (Applaiise.) May this day see the dawn of brighter times for all lands. May the Motherland emerge from this present trial strengthened, though,- unfojtunately, with great losses of fine men, for the great trials through which she ami we have yet to go." (Applause.) ' The Hon. t. M. Wilford, M.P., sflid he- had been very glad to hear the announcement made by Sir Joseph Ward. He had every confidence in the valor and intepidity of the Allied armies and in tho leadership of tho -newly-ap-pointed generalissimo, General Foch : nml New Zealand must continue to do her part in providing men. money, < and foodstuffs until victory crowned their efforts and their sacrifices with welldeperved success. (Applause.)