The Washington herald., 1913-03-23

SpcciHl Cable to The Washington Herald
Paris, March 22.-In spite OF the feeble
efforts of the Socialist leaders to stem
the tide there cannot be the slightest
doubt that the whole country is behind
the government, which is determined to
give an effective reply to whatever move
Germany may make TO strengthen her
land forces
Even in the dirigibIes Germany will not
be permitted to remain ahead of France.
For in addition to the seven large air
ships of 10000 cubic metres each, which
We're ordered some weeks ago. the war
department is contemplating placing an
order with a French firm, probably Gle
ment Bayard, for ten even larger dirig-
lbles with a carrying capacity of thirty
. tons each and a speed of about sixty
miles an hour and able to remain afioat
a full speed for two days without re-
plenishing their supply of petrol.
trcnstheninE Forts.
Thousands of men are already working
strengthening all forts along the German
frontier. and the men in charge of this
work are all officers who have followed
- the artillery duels of the Balkan war
at close range. All fortreSSes are also
TO be provisioned and supplied with
enough shells and ammunition to stand
a siege of a year if necessary.
The people of France are not only
prompted by their patriotism. feeling
which is no less strong among the So
Cialists than among the more conservd-
live parties, but also by the knowledge
that the day is not far off when Germany
Will have to give up the struggle Tor
supremacy because she will either have
to do that or 90 bankrupt. and in the
: meantime France is rich enough TO spend
. two millions to every one spent by Ger
many.
OF course the Kaiser and his advisers
are fully as well aware Of this fact as
the people in France, and what makes
ire present moment an exceedingly crlt-
cal one is that Germany may risk every
thing on one card, and attack this
country with all her strength before the
inevitable moment comes when she will
have 10 cut down her military expense $
from lack of money. A war indemnity
from conquered France. this time not a
paltry five millions. but If twenty-five
million or perhaps even fifty millions Of
dollars, would be Il God-send to Germany
now and would enable her to control the
dest!nes of Europe.
French Apprehcnsivc.
In spite of all the kaiscr's beautiful
words about his love Of peace. the people
of France diStruSt him. and their appre-
pensions are strengthened by the unusual
hrtiN NY OF German spies in the nelgnbor-
hood of the fortresses of Nerdun and
Nancy. All the news which is received
here from reliable sources in the lost
provinces of Alsace and Lorraine also
confirm that things are much blacker
than anyb'dy il permitted to know.
t." whole French people heartily iu-
d0rSeS the words pronounced in a speech
the other day by NJ. MiIerand. the former
Socialist minister Of war. 1t is a Gues-
# md IHfslfl n I, coli
military power is the first elementary
condition of our action in the world
What would our diplomacy be worth il
it were not supported by an army and
navy capable Of meeting any evcntu-
ality?''
What lends increas sed weight TO NJ Mil
l"rsnd's words is the fact that even his
bittercst opponents cannot honestly aC-
cTse him of being miitarist or a jingo
Everybody knows that he is as sincere
in his belief in Socialism as ever hut
he is first of all a Frenchman and
patriot. and the apparent change in his
attitude is merely caused by the fact