Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-03-15
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 10
General A. de Ceuninck, the distin-
guished 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
Tess. 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-
rartment and talked freely for half
an hour or more. General de Ceun-
| irck is a, veteran of many battles, and
he had brought with him to the min
istry the comprehensive grasp of large
problems, 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 Commits
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
great feeling:
II assure you that the first thing
J Belgium will do after the conclusion
of peace will be to erect a monument
to her good friend
The general turned to the outlook
| h4 id
field.
I'VE do not underrate the strength
of our opponents he said Germany
Is a military nation, a. powerful ma
ton, and she is not yet defeated.
America, however, has brought into
the conflict the additional resources
necessary to tip the balance in our
| favor, and an Allied victory is assur-
| 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 ewestern front. The Allies are
ready for any move and will present
an unbreakable line If the enemy
is going to stake everything on a big
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
Germany. 1t 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
| Z Se
alities. The morale of the troops
and of the civilian population never
has been higher than it is today. Our
soldiers are eager to fight At times
We have had difficulty in restraining
them until the proper moment for &C
: ton, for they chafe under the re-
straint- But they must be content
to await developments. They are
only one wheel of the great Allied
machine and and every part of that
, machine must work in cooperation
to make it run smoothly. When
. ever the call comes we shall be wait
ing to respond with every atom of
strength which we have.
THE entrance of America into the
war has done much to cheer our
troops. The fact that the United
} States is with US, both as 4 friend and
as a fighting Ally, means to the man
in the trenches that he is not making
, a vain sacrifice. He is sure of VIC
, tory and is more eager than ever tn
a CO rry the battle to the enemy camp.
"Our confidence in the outcome Of
| the war has been strengthened greatly
by the business-like way in which
- the United States government has
undertaken its task. 1 recently saw
= some detachments of American sol
diers who have undertaken to fight
with u.s. They were fine, clean-cut
men-athletic intelligent, and in
, tcnseIy energetic. It was an inspira-
: ton to see them. There is more hard
f fighting in sight but we shall win