The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-29
GENTLE PRELUDE
OF EUROPEAN WAR
France Feels That Political Map
of Continent May BE
Changed.
PATRIOTISM sTlRs NATION
Syndicate Formed to Resist
Tyranny OF French Custom
House.
ny GEORGE puFnEsNE.
reeIal cable 10 rhe TLmes. pIspateh. ]

Special Gable 10 The Times Dispatch
Paris, october 2s.-Tha feeling IS
spreading in France that the Turko-
Italian War IS only The gentle pre-
Jude OF a great European war next
spring, war which will play havoc
with the states and empires of Eu-
rope. and materially change the poll
teal MAJ OF the continents
The long squabble over Morocco has
brought forth a mighty wave of pa
triatism in France. The whole ma
ton condemns the statesmen who We're
willing 10 cede French territory in
Africa to Germany The idea OF CIV
anE up a single square mile OF Congo
10 the arch enemy across the Nosses
is considered atrocious by French pa
triots. who remember that the way to
the Congo was sOwn With tnorns and
tombs. and that hundreds o. French
families have left their beloved dead
beneath the burning sun OF the col
ony. The expeditions OF De Braaza
resulted in great loss of life through
disease and lighting with the natives.
and it is unthinkahle that the son. the
brother perhaps the husband whose
remains are buried in the Congo.
ehould become posthumous German.
The people OF France. or al least
remember the horrors of war and
dread the prospects OF f-esh battles
with the Kaiser's troops, but at tie
same time they are ready to fight
rather than cede news colonies to in
crease the strength OF the empire that
IS crushing out French language and
feelings in Alsace Lorraine.
A reservist, who, in private life. Is
very successful man OF business
said TO me few days ago; we are
expecting war in the spring. quote
his words without comment - we
would rather that II come now. but
we shall be ready, then as now
There was no pose about the man
his simplicity and sang froid" struck
me forcibiy. This Is the new France
and its placid prosperity and has be-
come heroic, vibrating with the feel
ing of the old days, when the 'piou
piou" was the soldier OF the world
Americans who are in the habit of
visiting France will he delighted to-
hear that q "Traveler< Syndicate"
|Sfs just been formed there to resist
the tyranny Of the French custom
house.
NOBODY quite knows. and very pos
sibly no one will ever know. exactly
Just what right the French custom
house has. To the autsider it appears
TO be a system for the collection of
tho smallest possible amount Of money
Mt the greatest possible expense by
the greatest possible number OF the
rudest possible officials. The princl-
pal abuse Is the knack French Gus
tom house officials have of turning
passengers out Of warm trains on to
cold platforms 10 have the hand bag
gage examined, when 1T would be Just
as easy for the oniciaIs and much
easier for the passengers II tho bag
gage were examined in the train
AN associatf.r' is now being found
ed to teach passengers their rights.
There is, 1t appears: a regulation which
DEGREES that when trains have \ cor
ridor. custom house officers shall
make their examination on board The
association proposes, therefore, to send
delegates to every French frontier. and
when the custom house officers or
der the passengers 10 get ont of the
train, the delegates will lead them to
revolt.
seem TO see some very pretty quar-
rels in perspective.
Although NJ Jaures'. organ. the
Humanite. stigmatizes Italy's action
a 49,.