FOCH DEFENDS NIVELLE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11931, 29 October 1919, Page 2

FOCH DEFENDS NIVELLE.

London, Oot. 13. The Paris Liberte gives whafc purports to bo Marshal Foch’s report of the 1917 offensive. Marshal Foch expresses the opinion that although all the desired results were not attained, the offensive constituted a real success for our arms. Under the threat of preparation for an offensive, the Germans, refusing battle, evacuated an area of 770 square miles, freeing an eighth part of the invaded territory. Besides resulting in the capture of 55,000 prisoners, 800 guns and 1000 machine guns, the offensive freed the Italian and Kussian fronts, and placed the initiative in our hands. The newspaper also quotes Foch as saying: “If ' General Nivelie had been allowed to continue his operations in 1917, Northern Farnce might have been freed sixteen months earlier.”