The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-13
HUNS WILL BREAK
 THEMSELVES ON ALLIES DEFENSES
Noted Belgian General De clares New German Drive
 Will be Beginning of End

On the Belgian Front, March 13- General A. de Ceuninck, the distin- gu1shed soldier and Minister of War for Belgium, today expressed to the correspondent of The Associated Press the firm conviction that a great offensive by the Germans on the Western Front would be the be- ginning Of the end for the Prussian military machine. This is true, said the general because even if the enemy should put his entire strength into an assault it was doomed to certain failure in view of Allied prepared ness. Having defeated the Germans in their onslaught, the Allies would be in a position, through the balance Of power which America had brought them, to counter with irresvistable force.
 The Minister had been asked to discuss the military situation as it appeared in the light of Germany's present position and the Prussian claim that the Entente allies would be brought to their knees. The general received the correspondent in the chateau which is being used as execu- tive headquarters for the War De- partment and talked freely for half an hour or more. General de Ceun. 1T ok is a veteran of many battles, and he had brought with him to the min istry the comprehensive grasp of large Eroblems, the quick decision and the discipline which have made his rep utation in the Belgian Army. One reads assurance and alertness in his every word and move.
 At the outset of the conversation the general spoke of the close friend ship existing between Belgium and the United States and referred in the most grateful terms to the assistance which America has rendered her ally through the Red Cross, the Commis- sion for Relief in Belgium, and in other ways.
 ''The morale of the hard pressed Belgians has been sustained and in- creased by the knowledge that tho citizens of the United States were | standing with them in the battle fo1 freedom and justice. You have Eghtened our load and enabled us to continue the struggle" said the | general.
 He paused, and then added with i great feeling:
 T assure you that the first thing Belgium will do after the conclusion | of peace will be to erect a monument to her good friend" The general turned to the outlook | for the Allied arms on the battle l field.
 We do not underrate the strength | of our opponents,'' he said. Germany $ a military nation, 8 powerful na- | ton, and she. is not yet defeated. l America, however, has brought into | the conflict the additional resources necessary to tip the balance in our | favor, and an Allied victory is assur- l ed. The outcome of the war now hinges on the question of numbers, and the superiority rests with us. Germany will fail in any offensive which she may be preparing for on tn eweste:n front. The Allies are | ready for any move and will present an unbreakable line. If the enemy | is going to stake everything on a bi:; | attack and is calling out every re- source he can command, he will have reached the beginning of the end when he fails to break through, for the counter strokes of the Allies can result in only one thing-defeat for l Germany. It may take some time to put the finishing touches on the vic tory but this will be accomplished.
 ''So far as the Belgian Army is concerned it is prepared for eventu- alities. The morale of the troops and of the civilian population neveC | has been higher than it is today. Gu! soldiers are eager to fight At times
 we have had difficulty in restraining them until the proper moment for ac- l ton, for they chafe under the re-
 straint- But they must be content
 tc await developments. They are
 cply one, wheel of the great Allied
 machine and and every part of that
 machine must work in cooperation
 t3 make it run smoothly. When
 ever the call comes we shall be wait
 ing to respond with every atom o1
 strength which we have.
 "The entrance of America into the
 war has done much to cheer oul
 troops. The fact that the United
 States is with us, both as | friend anG
 as a fighting Ally, means to the mar
 in the trenches that he is not makins
 8. vain sacrifice. He is sure of vic.
 tory and is more eager than ever t.
 carry the battle to the enemy camp
 "Our confidence in the outcome O. the war has been strengthened greatl.
 by the business-like way in whic1
 the United States government ha
 undertaken it's task. I recently say some attachments of American sol
 diers who have undertaken to f1gh
 with us. They were fine, clean-cu men-ath1etic intelligent, and in tensely energetic. It was an inspira
 ton to see them There is more har;