The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-04-04
WARS. WILL Be QUITE USELESS
WITH ENLIGHTENED PATRIOTS
Declares Baron Who Discuss
es the Conflicts Between
Russia and France.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 4.-The
uselessness Of war, with the CON
aiets between France and Russia
was the particular illustration S
preached here BY Baron d'Estournel;
les de Constant, who has been speak
ing throughout the United States for
the cause Of international peace.
Without discussing recent wars,
but merely those that have taken
place between France and Russia"
said Baron de Constant I'VE may be
said to have lived through a chapter
Of history which will be written one
OF these days under the title that
enlightened patriotism would give It
useless wars. In less than cen
tnry, French armies have carried
war into Russia, first to Moscow and
then to the crlmea. Neither of
these wars has been taken to heart
and remembered by the Russian peo-
pie, and they have not held France
responsible. Neither at Moscow In
Napoleon's time nor in the trenches
before sebastopol did the French
soldiers discover any sign OF hostil-
ity, hatred or incompattbillty among
the Russians. The past has van
ished; liking and affection spring up
from the first direct contact between
the two peoples, and the Franco
Russian alliance seems as If 1t had
always existed.
And yet the two governments. be-
fore they came to an understanding
had long regarded war between the
two countries as a natural and nee
essary state of things to be gener-
ally accepted in virtue of reasons
of state The governments believed
that both nations were bound to hate
each other, while the people them
selves asked for nothing better than
mutual confidence. While the two
governments were deciding for war,
the two nations were friendly, and
neither defeat nor bloodshed nor
bitterness has been able to stlae
this sentiment.
1t was all very we'll for govern-,
ments to admit that they were mis-
taken, but that did not bring back
the victims to life and to the SER
vice of their country. During a visit
i paid to Moscow, it seemed as if /
were living the trials and sufferings
of our unfortunate Grand Army all
over again. At least 100000 men
were modified for the campaign in
Russia. They were drawn from ali
the countries conquered by France,
and they included about 10000
young French tonscrlpts. As the
generations fit for service in the
army had been already wiped out,
It was found necessary to lower the
age limit and begin to take mere
boys who, though brave enough,
were physically unable to withstand
the fatigues of campaigning. All
these youths had to be marched
across Europe as far as the Niemen
and part of them at least, beyond
over the Russian steppes, only to
take part in the climax of the war,
the buEning of Moscow, the retreat
OF all the inhabitants, carrying away
with them all weals of subsistence,
and the most pitiless of winters,
combined with the retreat, coming
as the announcement of the tragedy
My way back to France from,
Moscow by railway took me over
practically the same route as thu
French troops followed in their re-
treat. Even in an express train it
seemed useless. 1t took in whole
day and night, and the names of the
stations, such as Barodino, smolensk
and Beresina, aroused painful mem.
cries. Those were the places where
our troops had had to fight their
way back to hostile Europe, the
battlefield of Peipzig and the final
campaign in France.
81 saw the snow spread out over
the plain like an immense white
sheet. Not the least trace OF a road
was visible 10 many and many .
mile-a waste through which our of.
ficers and men, destitute of almost
all supplies, had to make their way
at any cost Every day some of the
weaker succumbed. Shrouded in ic
before they were dead, they were de
voured by the crows and wolves
Think Of the nights these me.
passed! Even one spent in sleep
ing car berth seemed long to m,
but what must 1t have been to tham
and what an awakening. 1t is harf
tconnSled on rage 81