Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-02
WAR TO BITTER END.
DEMANDOF FRANCE
Show Of Impatience by the
PopuIace Arouses the
Politicians.
NO LONGER SHOW FEAR
OF oman ON HORSEBACK"
Crisis in Parliament Passes Away
and the People Remain at
Fighting Heat.
BY HERBERT COREY.
Copyright, 1879

Copyright, l9l5)
PARIS, August 29.-Ever since the
war began prophets of evil have been
predicting a break" in France. The
government was to go to pieces, the
command of the army was to be
changed and disorgapization was to be
complete. AS a natural result a sepa-
rate peace would be made by France.
THE French people are politically un-
stable" they insisted. They do not
stand fire we'll Then-there is the man
on horseback"
Upon the surface there was some
ground for this belief French politics
have been volcanic. Frances adver-
saries usually counted upon some meas
ure of administrative weakness. There
is dissension over the church and there
is still royalist party here. lmpa-
thence at the slow progress toward VIC
tory was apparent. 1t was feared that
France might view most sullenly being
asked to undergo another winter cam.
paign. in view of the heavy hnancla!
losses which almost every individuai
has sustained, not to speak of the toll
of death in a nation which has called
almost every man of military age TO
war There has been dissatisfaction
with the part Great Britain has played
"a dissatisfaction based upon lack OF
Information. but readily understand
able in view of the fact that Engiish
papers have criticised the fact that
England has been holding but thirty
five miles of the western front TO al
most 500 held by France.
The break" has come and gone. me
parliamentary crisis, which ended in a
sputter this week, was sufhcient PROOF
that the French people are soltdiy with
the government. There Is no longer any
fear of an overturn. The prophees are
silenced This people the world has
called mercurial have proved they can
remain at fighting heat
/ Feared "the Man on Horseback"
To thoroughly understand this week
event one should have a complete
knowledge of French politics. Avoiding
a discussion of this tangled theme,
however, 1t may be asserted that the
pot which recently boiled over was put
on the fire some years before the war.
France has been proud Of her army.
with that pride has gone fear OF the
man on horseback" A large element in
France have firmly believed that under
favorable conditions another dictator
might arise. A general who proved
himself great in war might become
fighting man.
Joffre was made commander-in-ch chief
because no one believed in him. He IL
a taciturn, businesslike, commonplace
man Of the people. 1t was believed that
he lacks those magnetic qualities which
win the popular heart. He was also q
thoroughly good officer. whose service
had been excellent, but not distinguish
ed. 1t was thought that he would be
an excellent. stodgy. matter-of-fact
head Gems Foch and Castelnau and
Sarrail were also considered for the
position. not to speak OF others. The
three named were held not available
because they belong to the royalist
party A return to a monarchy is a
thought of horror to the republican
element in France.
In part Joffre made good the some
what unfiattering reputation which gained
him promotion. He did not attract pub
lie attention before the war. He proved
himself a good soldier. whose thoughts
were only for the army He dismissed
generals almost by the squad because
they were not good soldiers. In doing
SO he made a legion of enemies in the
army and out. If the war had not come
he would have been forgotten in SIX
months after his retirement. His course
in the war was approved by the French
people. but not by large element Of the
politicians. 1t remained to be demon
strated that these politicians were not
the people.
JofYre. dismissed more generals after
hostilities began and that made more
enemies Now it is recognized that his
retreat was mastery bit of military
strategy. It was not go recognized up
to the battle Of the Marine. In standing
by him President Poincare's administ:a-
ton took on a fresh burden of unpopu-
larity with the politicians. Meanwhile
the French people were exercised over
the admitted deficiencies OF the medical
service. There was continual talk of graft
in the purchase of supplies Of all sorts.
II is freely admitted that outrageous
nr,ces were paid in those days for mate
rails. What was not recognized was
that France must have the supplies. She
got them. There was no dangerous
shortage anywhere. Ranked with this
fact loss of money was OF no moment.
A Coalition That Failed.
As a net result. however. a very
strong body of members of parliament
ranked themselves against the govern
ment The royalists were against the
administration naturally, and the So
cialists and radicals Joined hands. The
three elements were presumed to have
a working majority of the chamber
However, the majority was not able to
work. 1t had everything but power
The government kept that in its own
hands.
Representatives Of political parties in
the chamber form groups" They have
their own meeting rooris and their own
and their representatives
deal directly with the government.
were formed. corresponding
TO our own congressional committees.
tn -. which reports of the progress of
the war were made These groups con-
ducted investigations of various phases
and made reports. 1t appears that