Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-04
FRENCH ATTACKS UPON US
A Newspaper Campaign Against Our Army
and Navy.
The Mixture of Ignorance and In
truths Served to French Renders
Officers of Rank Responsible.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
PARIS, April 1S.-It would be a difficult
matter for any one to keep track of the
attacks on America and Americans made
by the French newspapers for the last
eight weeks, because about every newspa-
per in France has printed such attacks.
The American visitor in France, who in
nine cases out of ten has arrived here
with a pleasing idea Of the traditional
friendship Of France for the United States,
has probably been rudely shocked by these
disclosures of public opinion; the resident,
on the other hand. has become accustomed
to them. Upon three occasions within
month, in Paris. Americans who have aired
their views on Cuban affairs publicly have
been set upon by Frenchmen and NAL
treated.
The French battle for Spain in the news
papers is carried on in three distinct ways:
First, by violent editorials abusing America
and lauding Spain. putting the United
States in false and ridiculous light, ana
assigning to the government unworthy mo-
tives: second. by printing false dispatches
and rumors, and, third, by publishing in
terviews with all sorts and conditions of
men. some of which may be authentic, but
most of which are palpably false. Authen-
tic or false, however they are believed by
some of the people who read them, which
is the desired end. This is all rendered par
ticularly easy of accomplishment in France
because with the French-even the French
otherwise intelligent-the knowledge of con-
ditions in the world outside the borders Of
France is akin to that Of the Chinese.
Many men of real prominence have con-
tributed their views in these interviews,
and it is to be remarked that they are apt
to speak of American affairs with bit
terness, and an unseemliness. no less than
that of the newspaper writers themselves
even when they speak in seml-ohclal ca
RI Anna inan nf
had the sorrow to hear from the mouth OF
a rear admiral of the French navy the
opinion that the officers composing the
Maine board of inquiry were not, under
the circumstances, to be believed upon
OATH" This opinion was echoed by news
papers throughout France. The same naval
authority asserted that there was not an
officer in the United States navy capable
worthy of command Other naval officers
have delivered themselves of like opinions,
and army officers have Joined them In
views of the other branch of the service.
OF course these interviews have been
made up largely of mere matters Of opin-
ion; all the naval officers of France, for
instance, seem to agree that the officers
of the United States navy are incompetent,
inexperienced and ignorant; that discipline
Is lax and instruction nil; that the sailors
are merely mercenaries, that there Is no
such thing as patriotism among them, as
they are mostly deserters and drunkards
these French officers has expressed ii, THE
Spanish navy is three times as strong as
the American as far as ships go; when you
take into account the way these ships are
manned, the Spanish is ten times as
strong"
Coming to matters Of pure fact, French
officers are not quite SO positive. A captain
of the French navy has lately drawn up
Hypothetical plan of campaign for the side
of the United States which would doubt
less assist Captain Sampson, provided that
officer had no more nautical knowledge
This plan might quite properly have been
the authors name been signed to the ar
ticle and had it not been seriously discuss
ed by other naval officers. To give an idea
Of it 1t will be perhaps sufficient to say that
one paragraph began by remarking, "As
easy for the United States to transfer its
one to the other" and that the author
placed the Philippine Islands in the Indian
ocean and transposed the Canaries and the
Carolines. 1t is probably only in France
that an intelligent man and a naval officer
found out by somebody.
AS remarked. most of the French attacks
are merely opinions. To be called "mer-
cenary hogs" "dollar-hunting g-stickers"
and other names even less polite Is of
course, unpleasant to Americans living In
France, but all that may be put philosoph-
ically aside. What stirs the blood is the
way In which wholesale fabrications are
forth II, IL French m rorc in tho .,,Sv.,