The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-07-15
AUTOMOBILES SAVED PARIS
Jofre Said He'd Defend France But
Not Capital

published In full the address Of G. W
Barron recently delivered before tn
New England Street Railway Club. 4
portion Of the address, which expand
a situation only very briefly treated il
Mr.. Barrons book, The Audacioui
War" follows:
You will read columns and columns
in the papers about the defense OF
Paris. | will tell you something about
II and you have never heard II before
Paris was called. in the books, the
strongest fortified city in the world
II had 400 square miles Of fortifica-
tions, with Paris in the center. Such
have been the politics Of France, that
they never could get through an APP
preparation to properly man those de-
fenses. The French thought them
selves In pretty good shape. Germany
had 100000 men; France 100000.
France had only a small area TO de-
fend about 200 miles or more, or one
fourth her eastern frontier. Italy,
Switzerland and Belgium have each
about a quarter. SO all they had to
defend was the portion from Luxem-
bourg to Switzerland. They had 1t
very well fortified and very well man.
ned, and they thought they were in
vincible, and they were invincible, as
il proved, at that point When the
Germans came through Belgium the
French moved north to meet them.
At the battle of Charleroi, 10000 Of
the French went down, yet they never
saw the enemy.
Such was the force Of the German
invasion, such was the range of the
guns, that before the French ever saw
one man they had lost 10000 men.
Joffre, in command, cashiered at that
time over 100 Of the generals and sent
them to the rear; dismissed them in
disgrace, and reorganized the army.
He sent word to Paris, Il cannot stand,
or hold the Germans, and my only
safety is to keep retreating and fight.
ing as best can. At some point, II
the Germans come farther, we can
stand, but we cannot stand here"
Willing to Sacrifice Paris
With Won kluck were armies OF
/ 200, 900 men as he marched through
Belgium. Joffre had then only about
700 900 in all. He could not mobilize
quickly enough. The French had been
warned for year that the Germans
moved their railroads trains in mill
tary service 80 miles an hour, while 1t
was demonstrated that perishable
goods moved only about 30 miles day
on the French railways.
The Germans were marching
straight on to Paris, meeting only
what defense could be made by the
force Of England, about
100 900 or 10000 men, who were
holding the German flank at bay.
There were against these English
$50 900 Germans. The military gov
,rnor of Paris was summoned and the
President said, "What are your de-
'enses 2" He replied "We can hold
Paris only four days. We have nei-
her the guns nor the men," Poin-
are said, "We must surrender Paris
lnless Joffre will defend it." They
ent for Jofrre and said. "Will you de-
end Paris?" He said, "No, | will de-
end France, but | cannot defend
'aris. | will not have my army lock-
d up and besieged in Paris" So it :
vas agreed (and this you viii not find |
ven from the French people except in
Ugh station)--it was agreed to sacri-
ce Paris to save France, and the de- B
truction of the whole of Paris was il
xpected. s.
There are 20 arrondissements, or cl
ards, in Paris, and the pan OF the
ermans, II was said in diplomatic
rcles, was to destroy one of these \,
very day the indemnity remained un- :;
aid. In 20 days there would be moth :, !
~ left of Paris. The French were
illing TO make the sacrifice. They =,
nd, "Give up beautiful Paris, but VI
i've France" Then came Clemenceau '
nd he said to Poincare, "You are to
i've up Paris undefended, and you are
,t yet shot?'' u,
Gallieni's Auto Thrust VI
So they again summoned Jofre, le
Ne had better blow up the city our u
Ives and not give it to the Germans. a.
no can save Paris" The response
as: "There may yet be one man."
hey summoned Gallieni, go years OF 70
"a, and on the retired list They said, tn
ieneral. can you save Paris? ?" He ha
piled, "Take your government away as
i've me carte blanche, with the power 81
requisition the arms and the man C'
ID the goods and will save Paris"
ley gave him carte blanche, and he
,sted on the walls OF Paris that he ed
d been made the defender general Ps