Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-18

make certain that this situat ion may not
| be repeated al any future time.
| France will demand heavy money in
| dem;ity. both to recoup her icr the cost
of the war and the economic losses due to
| it. but also to hamstring Germany so that
she may not again become a menace to
the world peace. France will also insist
upon a liberal Naturalization fer Bel
GUM. and will not consent to peace terms
Which do not comprise regaining posses
sion of Alsace and Lorraine. But no
matter how completely she may be vic
| torious she will not ask for further
slice of German territory. Every French
man. from the peasant to the premier. is
agreed as to this.
1--WE do not want to rule over Ger
| mans. they say.
French Doubted Themselves.
He sees in the present terror the seeds
for the regeneration of France as t. ma
ton. He was particularly impressed with
the spirit of patient resignation with
which all F'renchmen are taking their
losses Neither life nor property seems
to matter to them, if only the hated Ger
man may be forever obliterated a
menace. AT the outset of the war. so
deeply had the national pride been wound
ed by the series of events which began
with the Franco-Prussian war that
Frenchmen had grave doubts as to the
lighting dDllty their people.
I'VE are a decadent nation men of
prominence admitted in dinner table talk.
The most we can hope to do is to make
our conquest cost the Germans dearly
before We die"
Now France is alight with the flame of
a nation in rebuilding. Phoenixlike, she
Is arising renewed from her ashes. The
woman in the street and the soldier in
the trench are alike inspired by new
Ieehns OF national pride and confidence.
II is the common prediction that if Ger
man is wholesomely defeated a new and
greater France will grow. He was espe-
claily struck with the Intelligence of the
French man and woman of every class.
Ihey seem to know what Is going on
he said. THE lowest private can describe
wildly the action in which he took part
and outline the disposition of the armies
In the field. He seems to grasp the
strategic plan of the campaign. He is
more nearly akin to American men-es-
any other soldier 1 know"
French Army Too Democratic.
His chief criticism of the French
army is of it's wonderful democracy.
Il have seen the chiefs of the nation
and the leaders of the army shaking
hands with private soldiers and eager
ly talking with them," said he. "The
on plane of social equality with his
men. although he exacts and receives
obedience. But there is too much in
divfdual initiative among them. The
strongest character in a company may
carry that company off it's feet in the
excitement of a martial moment. To
this trait not less than % per cent of
their very heavy losses have been due.
1t is being corrected by that remark
a int 70 IN yxrh ioh oil
Iuded. The private soldier has seen for
himself that war is matter of armies
of masses-and not of men. So he is
subjecting himself to mass tactics.
Further, the French army, as well
as the German army, has been deeply
bloodied. The Germans lost thousands
of lives unnecessarily because of their
effort to hammer their way through
the French defenses by sheer weight.
The French lost almost as heavily be-
cause they were rashly daring. Now
the German is on the defensive, and
bitter defensive fighter he will prove