Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-27

comprehensive revietO of the fret year
Of the wGr. They iViu be continued
svery day during the tUeek.
PARIS, July 27.-The Great Doubt has
been lifted from the heart OF France
The accomplishment Of this was tho
Brandest deed OF French arms in all the
year OF Armageddon which began year
ago this week. In history the feat will
be known as the victory Of the Battle Of
the Marne.
Not only did this victory probably de-
eide the fate OF France geographically
but its influence upon the spirit of the
country was, and still is incalculable.
For Notwithstanding the solidarity ac-
eomplished instantly and spontaneously
on August 1, the day the general mobili-
cation order was posted a great doubt
weighed like lead on the hearts OF those
who marched away singing as well as
those who stayed behind and wept
Everybody remembered 1870.
The old remembered the swift defeat
In the Franco-Prusslan War and the hor-
rible nightmare of blunders The young
had heard the story time and again. The
French in 1870 we're totally unprepared
for war, were badly equipped and badly
led. Their plans lacked cohesion. Cen
erals fought Independently one of the
other Treason was laid at the door Of
one, and altogether II was a terrible
mess, In which tho poor soldiers never
had the slightest chance Notwithstanding
q courage which wrung from even tho
Prussians the exclamation: "Oh what
brave fellowsl''
HEAVY HEARTS.
So last August when the soldiers started
for the war each one bore in his heart
burden heavier than the knapsack on
his back: Would history repeat itself?
Would 1914 be another 1870? Was France
better prepared this time? Would she
be better led? Were her generals equal
:. the great task 'h''d' If not the"
The troopers dared not let their minds
run beyond this point. Individually the
most intelligent soldiers In the world, they
have the other curse and blessing of
civilization, an imagination; so they sang
and quit thinking; they joked with one
another, never admitting even to them
selves-let alone to their companions
that the doubt was there.
Back home the hearts of mothers,
fathers, wives, sisters and sweethearts
were troubled by the same unexpressed
dread lest 1914 prove another 1870. And
" such should prove to be the case
They, too, smiled and talked cheerfully |
Of new and Irresistible France.
All knew, those who remained waiting |
as well as those who went to war, that |
for "A years Germany had been living, !
eating, sleeping drinking, dreaming war, |
and that this war had come. What about |
France? Who was General Joffre? Who |
were the other generals? Newspapers
had but recently declared that France
was unprepared; was this true? And all |
went on being troubled in secret lest |
France should again prove unready.
After vague news reached Paris that |
General Joffre was In retreat from Char
leroi, the 1870 bugaboo loomod bigger and
bigser. Maubeuge was invested; Lille
was occupied. Then there came silent,
tense days, without any real news The
Government moved to Bordeaux: the Ger
mans were now In Maubeuge Compiegne,
scissors, Rheims, Chalons Epernay,
Luneville. Verdun and Nancy were seri-
ously menaced. Paris, 1t seemed was
doomed and Uhlans were reported to be
at the gates. The worst fears of soldiers
and homcfollSs seemed realized. 1t looked
like another 1870. only worse.
NO PANIC.
Still there was no panic. There was the
exodus OF thousands of persons who OBJ
iected to living in Paris during German
occupation, but the city was calm
Frances "sacred union" held firm.
But the doubt instilled into the mind OF
Franco by 1870 was there CALLING and
PEAL The people could not know that
General Joffre was later to be called
genius. They could only wonder IL his
retreat was strategy or incompetency The
was strict and they had few
facts to base opinion on. They did not
know the battle OF the Marne was being
fought nor that Joffre had performed, by
winning a victory there, sort of eighth
wonder OF the world. Yet this was true.
Henceforth, whatever may happen 10
he French soldier, he will refuse to be
discouraged. He can advance, retreat or
ioggedly hold what he has won, any or
Ill, with tenacity and good cheer. He
las faith in his officers and faith in him
elf. He knows the war may be long,
tut he grins and grits his teeth: "WeIl
Iet 'em, at lastp' he says.
The ghost OF 1870 has been laid