The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-01-18

coo. OF this, of course, one-third or
more will return to the battleline and
the French have the satisfaction OF
knowing that the German losses are far
larger But viewed from a financial
standpoint, if this war is not too long
prolonged or too costly in life and
treasure France will emerge from it re-
.uvenated and re-energized.
Her people are serious and deter
mined as never before. They now wei
come strong work and strong hands
and if the republic does not respond
to the responsibilities of the hour thew
will not as in 1870 burn and destroy
but will set up another government in
quick order and wipe out the weakness
and inef1iciency that was found to ex-
list when tie strain came in August,
/ 1914.
French Heroes.
The French nation has never before
been put to such trial. In every
other war there has heen no threat of
! the destruction of France. Indeed,
lup to 1870. France was the great ma.
tion of Europe, greatest in war as well
as greatest in peace. When she at
tackled Germany in 1870, she started
for Berlin with full confidence in her
greatness And when she paid to the
Germans Il billion dollars in II, ii
was with scorn and contempt: ''Tako
Your money and get out,
When Bismark in 1875 discovered
the prosperity Of France, he cunningly
set about enccmpassing her downfall
He knew the wcrld would not approve
of Germany attacking q foreign foe
there was no excuse that could be
found.
Therefore, as he himself has confess
ed, he started France into empirecO
lonial up-building in Africa and Asi;
with the full intention of leading he
into q clash with England. When thi
point was reached many years after
wards. Delcasse clearly saw the stu
alton. and, instead of war, mad,
friends with England. All the worl,
knows the result. Germany demanded
his resignation from the French eabi
net under threat of war. France wa
Inundated; Deleasse dropped. Later h
led the movement TO strengthen tn
navy of France as we'll as the army
1t may be declared that Delcass
treated the Triple Entente, and there
by saved France and Europe. Today
France fights a wholly defensive bat
i tie SUI 'ptI ItH tIl one sue ~ biC AUS
) sian bear and on the other by the Brit
ish lion.
France was chastened by the war o
: 1870. She will be crushed or redeem
ed by the war of 1915. The spirit o
her people today is the spirit of sac
rifee. The French character never be
} fore shone forth so nobly.
"What terrible Disagreement,
. exclaimed 4 thoughtless lady as sh
visited the wounded in great Frenc1
hospital.
Not Disagreement at all, Mad
am, exclaimed the French soldier
"A decoration
Out of the war may cCme great pc
litical and military heroes There
: one general in France today who's
name is not widely known but of whoI
his associates say, :" He is not only tn
iequal but the superior of Napoleon.
But the great hero throughout Europ
? today is the King of the Belgians, tina
little country that grew daily bigge
in the eyes of the world as it grey
=, daily smaller in possessed territory
There are those who believe that Frame
e and Belgium will be hereafter nor
closely together than before and tina
a stranger things have happened-th
7 King of the little Belgians might be L
' greater miracle for France than ii
: little Corsiean more than 100 yea1
l. Pago.-C. w. Barron in Boston New
| bureau.