The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-31
is FRANCE REALLY
GREAT REPUBLIC?
Recent Revelations in Foreign
Problem Make Affirmative
Answer Doubtful
OUTLOOK IS NOT BRILLIANT
M. Camille Pelletan Talks OF the
French and Their Political
Outlook.
OUTLOOK IS NOT BRILLIANT
III GEORGE DUIrRESNE.
{ special Cable to The Times Dispatch.

thought OF the political outlook for the
year NE are about to enter. assuring
him that my American readers were
very much interested in the politics
OF the greatest and most powerful re-
public OF the Old World, but the famous
Statesman was exceedingly loath TO eS-
press himself,
The greatest and most powerful re-
public of the Old World" HE said. re-
pcating my words. Yes, I suppose
France may lay claim to that proud
title, but Of late ! have very often
asked myself If Franco is really a
republic. So many recent revelations
have shown that our foreign politics.
during the last ton years. have been
conducted in anything but a republi-
can manner, and this fact sometimes
makes me dread our political outlook
France has in former days suffered
great losses, because Individuals in
possession of power have most care
lcssly engaged her in very risky un-
dertakinss. History tells us how
Louis XIV. not satisfied with his alb
solute power. had personal foreign
policy which very often was opposed
TO that of his official government. and
we know how disastrous wore the eff
tecs of this. Much more recently we
and regret the events OF 1870, which
proved how fatal 1t Is TO a nation to
give a single individual the power to
lead 1t into disaster. The strongest Of
all reasons which led up to the birth
OF q French republic, and which makes
the people ROMAN loyal to It to-day, is
tho confidence belief that We are mas
ters Of our own deetiny.
Therefore 1t has surprised me, and
a good many French people with me.
to have discovered how a number OF
mon who are neither of royal nor i'm
perial blood have mysteriously decided
the course OF our foreign politics and
repeatedly led us to the brink OF war
to satisfy their own individual ambi-
tions. The revelation OF the France
Spanish treaty was decisive on this
point.
That IN France q. minister. informing
only two or three high official person
eGes. has been able. in the name OF
che country. and In face OF tho absolute
certainty Of continued disorders in
Morocco, to undertake the conquest
deux of q part OF Africa and tho pco-
pie OF France hear nothing OF this I'M
I'll seven years later. after this mys-
ter!ous engagement has twice come
near setting all Europe a1azne, ie sur
prisinS Tho personal policy OF Louis
XIV. apart from that OF his govern
ment, waa called 'le secret du roll"
to hava g secret du roll" In the
French republic.
Tou ask me what ] think OF our
prospects during the coming year. and
my answe. to this Is: The French re-
public Is stronger and more powerful
then ever. we are far better able to
take caro- of our national interests
than at any time during the last thirty
years. ana the only power which We
arc likely to get into conflict with.
Germany. knows this. and will hesitate
long before challenging us to fight.
but If we arc to have q secret du ROT"
If ambitious politicians are to be
sole masters OF our foreign politics,
then nobody can tell what may hap
pen. and i hope The people of France
WILL realize this while the year we are
about TO enter is still young The
people OF France want peace. and the
deatiniss OF France are safe in the
hands OF her own people. With the
nation covering its own affairs poIiti-
cal prospects for 1912 are exceedingly
bright"
We have beard SO much to the do
trinent OF the "B" powder the cause
OF the blowing up of the warship
Lherte, that 1, is cheering to hear
something good In IT'S favor. .sThe 81
powder is the best of existing war
powders" This Is the view OF NJ.
Daniel Berthe1ot. the famous scientist,
and has been arrived at after numer-
Gus experiments.
Professor Rarthelot has for several
gears been engaged In the study OF
violet rays. He has found that
they constitute source OF creative
energy. He saw that under the influ-
ence OF the rays, powders decomposed
The same as under the influence of age
and heat The same gases In the sam.
proportions were found. The profes.
eor obtained specimens of all the wa,
powders in use--English, German. Itai.
ian. and other specimens, number,nl
more than twenty-and came TO tn,
conclusion that none were equal to tho
'B' powder. This resisted the de
structtve action of the ultra. violet ray:
longer than any other powder.
The professor hopes that In {. fort
hight he Kill be able to place Mt TIL,
disposal of the army sure ,nethot
Of controlling it's powders AS to th.
deplorab1e accidents attributed to tn,
powder, he considers thte they wer,
due to the bad conditions under whicl
St is Kept in the navy. It Is kept 4,
overheated magazines, he says, 30 tina
. 1t Is difficult matter to control 1,
But by means OF his discovery he 1
persuaded that In thirty years the ''B
powder will be as stable as when 1
left the factory. The professor vii
submit a paper to the Academy o
Sciences on the subject.
N. Messirny. Minister of War, vii
shortly submit to Parliament a nun
Der Of reforms, which will mean tina
the military organization will be over
hauled. One Of these projects will Gin
at constituting a certain number o
forceg, In which the army corps Will
no longer be considered az elementar,
units. The effect Of this reform Will
he that the number OF generals will
he reduced and the age limit lowered
In The infantry the present fourth bat
ta!ions will be used in defending
places, New battalions OF Alpin