Joffre's Optimism

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIII, Issue 15706, 6 December 1915, Page 4

Joffre's Optimism

y* PEACE TO-DAY A CRIME

In an interview for Collier’s General Joffre was asked, “ and the question of peace

“ He answered with more solemnity than earnestness,” writes Mr Owen Johnson, the interviewer.

“ Peace to-day would be a crime towards po3tority. It would only be an armistice in which every nation would continue feverishly to prep ire for war. The Flinch ■ nation is too intelligent to deceive itself or to be deceived. We are not fighting a na ion with the same iaeas as our own, but a nation drunk with the idea of imperial domination, a nation which believes that in the progress of the world there is no place for little nations- The decision as to whether Europe will continue as free and individual will be mide in this war alone. Either wo win the "right now to continue democratic and peaceful, or we -surrender Europe to the imposition of an imperial idea. You will find, wherever you go, that the French people know this. You will find them **absolutely of one opinion. They are prepared for anything, and they know what the issue is. We do not need to lie to our soldiers. No matter how long the war lasts, it will be fought out until wo hive conquered the right to leave a heritage of peace to our children.” “Of course, another winter’s campaign,” the interviewer suggested.” will never be as frightful as the last one.” “No,” he said; it will be very different. We are prepared now, for many things. One thing, especidly we will try to avoid—the standing in water and ice for days and weeks’”

“As to the final cdsis,” General Joffre said . “What ever happen 3 , the French Army will never crack. It did not in the first unequal weeks ; it never will. When the day comes that the German army must retreat in the face of defeat, it is quite possible that when their theory of discipline —the discipline of fear — is placed to that final test, the result may be a rout.”