The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-22
Joseph Caillaux.

getful OF his sorry experiences in con-
nection with the Morocco and Congo
controversy in 1912. involved himself
once more in underhand negotiations
with his German friends, with a view
to tire conclusion of n separate peace
with the Kaiser, leaving Great Britain
and Russia in the lurch.
This was at about the time OF the
extremely injudicious move of the
seat of the Government from Paris
to Bordeaux, for which he was largely
responsible. II Gen. Joffre had had
his way he would have had Caillaux
cour Nmartialed and shot for having
rs a soldier entered into relations with
the enemy without the knowledge or
approval OF his superior officers. But
his friends In the present Cabinet. in
GLIDING Premier Viviani. a member of
the Radical party, interviewed to save
him from the fate which Re 80 richly
deserved. by restoring him to civil life
and by hastily sending him out or
the country to Brazil.
While there his principal secretary.
factotum and alter ego, n man or
the name OF Dcsclaux. who through
his influence had been appointed TO
n paymastersrip Of the army. was de-
tected in the act Of embezzlement
and Of particularly cruel frauds. Ar
rested and lodged in Jail, Desclaux
appealed for help to Caillaux and In
formed the latter that unless he came
TO his rescue he would make a clean
breast OF the things he knew.
Caillaux and his wife FASTENED back
to France, and after having had his
ears boxed ut Lisbon by a Portu-
guese noble fond of France-Caillaux
had already had his eye BACKED In n
restaurant at Rouen by an English
officer some time before his departure
for Brazil-he arrived in Paris In
time 10 save Desclaux from capital
punishment. In fact, he was able to
WELD sufficient influence to get him
of with a ridiculously inadequate sem
tence of two years imprisonment; not
before, however, ne had been sub
iected to the terrible ignominy OF
public military degradation by orders
of Gen. Joffre.
Naturally CaillAux has turned all
his guns and venom upon Jofre, who
has become the object of his most in
tense resentment. That he still re-
tains an extraordinary amount OF
mower over the radical majority In the
Chamber of Deputies and OF fiuen
upon the radicals comprised in the
Cabinet, where fortunately they are
in the minority, Is shown by the move
which he has engineered to subject
The military operations of Joffre and
OF the generals under his command
to the control and direction of the Ma
t!onal Legislature.
; 1t has been Claimed in the Chamber
that all sorts Of alleged mistakes Of a
: military nature. such as, for instance
the retreat of the Marine, would nave
been ayerted II Parliament had beer
allowed to maintain "A fuller and more
complete control over the commanders
In the field and over their operations
Nillerand. the Minister Of War, wh'
very scnsibly opposed nj. inrliamen'
tary interference with Jofre, wa!
charged with being n bungler am
with being responsible for the short
age Of munitions, while the General
y issimo himself was denounced for hi
7 delay In driving the enemy from thei
: intrenchments and from off French
and Belgian soil.
. After the most acrimonious debates
" a compromise has been finally mr.
, ranged, according to the terms o
!, which Parliament Is to have the RICH
y of appointing certain OF its member
to act as civilian delegates AT mill
tary headquarters, to consult with tn
generals and to obtain from them In
formation for communication to IN
Chambers.
That, however, Joffre and his mos
trusted generals will permit any re
Fl, establishment of the system Of 119a
when Revolutionary commissioners O
the Legislature, such as St. Just. La
zare, Garnet, &C., We're vested wit
- powers to harry the generals at tn
front. to bring them to book n I
- control them, need not for one momen
" be believed. Sor would the people @
:, France dream Of toierating any inter
:, ference with Joffre. who enjoys thei
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