The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-19
DEFENDERS
IN E ARE MUZZLED
LA Guerre Sociale," Which Denounced Treatment Ac-
corded to Commander, and "Le Rappel" Are
Seized and Articles Suppressed by Censor.

he avoids giving any mi The OPEN
Ing sentences are:
at is all over with the sacred union
to which we hold 80 strongly, II the
Government does not Loyalty and cour-
ageously repair the error which IL com
mitted some ten days ago. This has
aroused amazement and feeling through
out republican France. which has In
creased each day among republican Of
icers.
1T cannot be imagined v e IL
I consented to dlshonor myself by conf
PLEASANT silence, our sacred union could
Withstand such a blow.
W had In our army, which counts
50 few republican generals. a general
whose high military worth was fecog-
nized by all. his friends and enemies
alike. He had even been thought OF
in times OF peace for the highest COM
mand. War broke out and he justified
this high reputation.
"He is one OF our few generals Of
armies who sustained zone OF those dis
asters in August which nearly brought
us to a new downfall like that OF 1870.
His decision. his coolns in the re-
treat which followed the tragic defeats
of August 90 saved one OF our sseatest
fortresses. reference Is TO Nerdun. ]
His skill and tenacity In holding. on has
own authority. "A position that was con-
sidered hopeless made the Marine victory
possible. Thanks to him the retreat
did not reach the Seine and therefore
Paris was saved.
For eleven months In spite OF reduced
forces and undoubtedly too with medic
ere material means, he has victoriously
held ground against one Of the largest
and best furnished armies OF all.
He is adored by his men. whose
trenches he often visits II who have
great faith in him.
yet brutally. because, like the old
grognards of the First Republic and the
Empire, he allows himself. among per-
sonal friends, to growl that everything
was not going as he would like. and be-
cause his great military reputation dis
turbs more than one great chief. ana
because the keenness OF his republican
convictions has made him the abomina-
ton of all that the republic hates In
our stan. he is struck at, punished In
spite OF his worth rs a chief. which 10
still recognized ms his, under the pretext
of some professional fault, real or
imaginary, which In any case Ma no
serious consequences"
Herve then says that he has been re-
preached for saying nothing last Az
gust. when summary measures were
taken against Cnlef OUlCeTS ntIu TeslOH-
sible for mistakes made at the beginning
If the war, when he lHerve) even ex-
pressed appreciation. He admits n
among the wholesale punishments then
inflicted mistakes may have been made.
but that now II is a question OF a chlet
VIII has incontestabiy proved his value,
one OF the vlctors OF the Marine.
He declares that he is not pleading
~extenuat!ng circumstances for him. but
asking that he shall not b. dismissed
like a servant that a man OF his worth.
without whom the Prussians would prob
ably be at Paris at the present moment.
he not disqualified. .
Il demand Justice he says. and
Justice Is violated when a victorious gen.
eral is struck pitilessly for an omission,
IL there was an omission. which has
not had serious results. and when gen
erals who have not the same record and
have committed grave faults which can
not he contested and have had bloody
are not touched.
And when the general who is struck
is the most beloved OF republican gem
erals. when the generals who are spared
are r~eactionaries. II is the republican
sentiment of the country which in hurt,
the confidence OF the republican country
which is affected, the sacred union
which is wounded to death and final
victory compromised or delayed"