New-York tribune., 1914-12-23
FRANCE, DEFIANT,
TO FIGHT TO END
Continued from page I

composed. II is the cry that Is being
heard from the glorious trenches,
where France has thrown all her youth
and all her virility. In front of this
rousing evidence, unexpected by Ger
many, Of national sentiment, Germany
was troubled in the intoXication Of her
dream of victory.
"On the first day of the conflict Ger
many denied the right; she had re-
course TO force; she disdained history,
and to violate the neutrality of Bel
gium and invade France she invoked
the remarkable law of self-interest.
Truth Rises Above Falsehood.
"Since this time the German govern
ment has realized that it was necessary
for it to consider the opinion Of the
world, and il recently attempted a re-
habilitation of its attitude by endeav-
oring to throw back on the Allies the
responsibility for the war. But in spite
Of this the truth has appeared. 1t has
shown itself rising above the false
hoods that amiable credulity no longer
accepts. All the documents published
by the nations interested, and even yes
terday at Rome the sensational speech
of one OF the most illustrious repre-
sentatives Of noble Italy, are evidence
of the determination on the part of
our enemies, but frustrated for long
time, TO endeavor TO bring about an un-
expected act of aggression.
"lf circumstances required 10 a
single one Of these documents would
suffice TO enlighten the world OIL this
subject. When, at the suggestion Of
the British government. all the nations
concerned were requested to suspend
their military preparations and take
part in a series of negotiations with
London, on July 81, 1914, France and
Russia adhered 70 this proposal.
Bent on Crushing France.
"Peace could have been maintained
even at this very critical hour il Ger
many had been willing TO accept this
idea. But Germany disrupted the situ-
alton. On August ! she declared war
on Russia and made recourse to arms
unavoidable. And IL II is fact that
Germany automatically crushed this
possibility of peace in its inception the
years she has been indefatigably pur-
SAAA4S htA NbJtNAs NlllAl mas bttH lUt
crushing of France in order TO effect
the enslavement of the world.
"All these revelations are made be-
fore the court of history. where there
is no place for corruption, and mas
much as France and her allies, in spite
of their love Of peace, have been con-
strained TO submit 10 war, they will
make war to the end.
Faithful 10 the signature that she
attached 10 the treaty of September 4,
1914, and 10 which she pledged her
honor-thst is 20 say her life-France.
acting in accord with her allies, will
not sheath her sword until after TAX
ing vengeance Tor outraged right; until
she has united for all time to the
French fatherland the provinces raw
ished from her BY force; restored
heroic Belgium TO the fulness of her
material life and her political inde-
pcndence. and until Prussian militar-
ism has been crushed. to the end that
il be possible to reconstruct on a basis
Of justice a Europe finally regener-
sted.
War Reveals Races Virtues.
This plan of war and this plan OF
peace do not come TO US. gentlemen, in
spired by any presumptuous hope. Tho
certainty Of success is ours. We owe
this certainty TO our entire army; to
our navy. which, acting jointly with
the British navy, has procured for Us
the mastery Of the seas. and to the
troops who in Morocco successfully re-
pulsed aggressive action. We owe it
also TO the soldiers who are defending
our distant flag in those French col
onics which, from the very first day.
turned toward France as a daughter
would turn 20 mother in distress.
I'VE owe this conviction TO our army,
whose heroism was guided by incom-
parable leaders TO the victory Of the
Mane and % the victory IN Flanders.