Evening star., 1915-10-17
STORY OF VICTORY
IS HEARD QUIETLY
No Excitement Shown in Paris
Over Success of the Al
lied Armies.
PEOPLE STILLED BY FEAR
OF NEWS MAIL MAY BRING
Report From Front of Greatest Gain
of Ground Since Trench
War Began.
Copyright, 19ib.l


PARIS October 1.-The week which
ends today has been the most dramatic
in the history of the war since the bat
tie of the Marne. The first great CO.
ordinated offensive of the allies was
launched, and was complete success.
The incomplete and as yet unreliable
figures show that approximately 10000
German prisoners have been taken and
121 field pieces and guns of heavier
calibers have been captured. The great
est gain of ground since the inaugura-
ton of trench warfare in the west has
been made. But stranger in Paris
would not know that anything out Of
the ordinary had taken place.
|. 1T is good news, yes?" is the saluta-
tion which greets one everywhere. But
when the stranger in Paris assents, the
Partisan is apt to reply:
Let US wait and see"
Do not understand that Paris is pessi-
mistic. very real happiness pervades
all classes of the people. But Paris is
essentially conservative so far as group
expression goes. The city does not
break out in flas-futterings and cheers
when good news comes. 1t waits until
all is known The disposition to rejoice
is further tempered by the knowledge
that the French losses must have been
heavy. Even If the national heart has
been made glad, that of the individual
is burdened by a fear of the news that
tomorrows postman may bring.
French Were Ready.
The first news of the great success
| reached Paris Sunday. September &c.
The preceding day enough had fl
tered in to pitch public expectation
high. For that matter, it had been an
open secret that great advance was
planned. Your friends whispered to
you on the street that the hospitals
had been cleared and that orders had
been given to make ready for the re-
ception of $4,000 wounded. 1t was
known that a heavy cannonade was in
progress in the Pouilleuse region of the
Champagne. Sunday was a magnif
sat on the bouleVards. The commu-
niques giving the first news of the vic
tory appeared on the street at O'Clock.
IF this were our war New York
would be one great roar" said an
American friend. "Ill venture they
are cheering in London If the censor
has let them know about 1t. But look
at these French people,"
They were smiling. chatting, watch
ing the pretty women, talking gossip.
A few gathered at the newspaper Of
fees, where the communicates were dis
played, but very few. There was some
scattered handclapping at the theaters
and picture houses, where the news was
read out, but il was very scattered. At
least one-half of the noise in the pic
ture theater in which l happened to be
| was furnished by a dozen or so unmis
taxable English and Americans. The
French smiled, and applauded Scantily.
rather in recognition of the Importance
| of the news than because of any inward
urge.
THE truth is" said an Englishman of
| fifteen years residence in Paris, that
! our Anglo-Saxon theory that the
| French are a volatile people is all
| wrong individually they are some
| times a bit noisy. A debate between
| two friends over the age of a wine
| sometimes sounds like the prelude to
| murder But in mass they are con-
servatism itself. They do not march or
shout. sing songs. Their attitude
always seems to be:
This is very good. But let US wait
and see! ...--.
| In proof of this he recalled the occa-
| sion of some years ago when the triple
| bond was signed by England, Russia
and France King Edward VII visited
| Paris to emphasize the Importance of
the occasion. The great London and
American newspapers sent special rep
resentatives here. London fairly bub-
bled with happiness. The French peo-
ple fully appreciated the tremendous
| Significance of the new alliance and
were made happy by it. But they did
not make a noise over it. The streets
were no fuller than usual, and they
| emptied at the usual hour.
| Paris Quiet as Grave.