East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-12-29
BY WILLIAM PHILIP srMMs.

BY WILLIAM PHILIP sIMMs.
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent)
PARIS. Dec. 28.-Fiye significant
events punctuated the year Just draw
ing TO close as seen from the
French point Of view. The Battle OF
Champagne, the Balkan muddle the
change Of governments, the creation
of an internally war council and the
nomination Of General Joffre as com
mander-in-chief Of all the French
armies whatever the theater Of op-
erations.
On the whole, France regards the
past year as one without brilliance SO
far as she or the allies are concerned.
Her victories have been rather mega
tive While her enemy has been
making some great runs around the
ends she and those fighting with her.
have succeeded in keeping the ban
pretty well in the middle Of the field.
The first half of the game seems
about over the Teutons have the ball
but there have been no touchdowns.
That is about the way the common
sense Frenchman sizes up the situa-
ton at the close of 1915.
The Battle Of Champagne was i'm
portant because 1t was the very first
battle to be fought under present,
trench-perfect conditions; it gave the
French soldier a proper measure Of
the enemy and a measure Of him
self. Though no importat strategic
point was gained by this victory. un-
doubtedly it will have its effect on
1916 operations because it settled sew
eral important points.
The internally war council leads
Frenchmen to believe that the mis-.
takes of the past are not likely to be
repeated; from now on they have de.
termined that the war plans of the
allies will dovetail and that the com
ing year will register some real re.
suits.
The Balkan muddle has given
France more anxiety, perhaps, than
any other war phase during 1915.
Frenchmen openly admit failure there
both automatically and military
Greece three times offered to Join The
allies, once even before the Battle Of
the Marne in 1914, but each time she
was refused admission. Then. when
the allies had failed down at the Dar-
danelles and in Bulgaria and asked
her to come in. she had changed her
mind 1t is admitted in certain cir
cles that had France and the allies
acted in concert and at the proper
time, there is not the slightest doubt
that Greece would have led the
dance that Bulgaria and Rumania
would today be fighting on the allies
side and that the muIti-colored flags
of Germanys opponents would today
be floating over the minarets of Con-
stantinople.
The resignation Of Theophile Del
case, considered one of the greatest
of Frenchmen, from the office Of
minister Of foreign affairs. was due
uniquely to the Balkan developments
Some say he opposed sending troops
to Saloniki; others declare he long
ago advocated Big stick methods in
the Near East and that because his
diplomacy there was not strongly
enough backed up. King Ferdinand
joined hands with the kaiser instead
of with the allies Take your choice
Whatever his reasons for resigning,
his departure was the occasion Of
complete reorganization Of the gov
ernment. Premier Rene Viviani re-
signing to make way for NJ. Aristide
BRAND. The presence of NJ. BRAND
as prime minister IS significant. He
is known as a man Of action of initia-
tive and strong measures.
The nomination of General Joffre
as supreme generalissimo of all The
French troops means two things:
First that Joffre will have absolute
authority in disposing of his armies
and planning campaigns; second, the
French hope that the English will
take the hint and agree to a full and
complete coordination of all avail
able forces. Competent authorities
agree that German successes have
been the result of central control
OF efefctiyes, permitting rapid deci-
sions quickly put into effect, where
as the allies have not acted properly
in concert and when at last after
long delays they did get together
the measures agreed upon were slow
~ put into operation. The internally
war council composed of men who
have the power to act as, it is said.
Joffre will have from now on, ought
to show results during the comine
year
Summed up Frances last year has
been largely one of preparation She
hopes the coming year will be one OF
execution. People here call the new
cahint the Cabinet of Victory just as
they call the new French loan of
about 90 billion francs, the Loan Of
Victory
The FrenChman hopes for peace
during 1916, He considers the Amer
lean peace talk the greatest puzzle
of the year because peace now CotgId
mean but one thing: Defeat for the
allies
The elevation Of Jofrre to his new
position is an official commentator
of his war policy, summed up by the
experts as wearing the enemy down
by "attrition," which Joftre calls
"nibbling." Naturally this policy VIII
be in force so long as Joffre is in
the saddle. France made three
heavy drives at the Germans durilg
1915. in March. May and september
but these drives were all teelers.
am told. to test the strength Of the
German line The French soldier
vi. L.M .-An Lh-L L-r-.--E AL-n- ---u----