Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-15
WAR TRANSFORMS |
ENTIRE NATION
Greatest Surprise of European
Conflict Is Attitude Of
France. TNj
PEOPLE CALM AND QUIET
They Have Confidence in Vic.
tory After Long, Hard
Struggle. |
PEOPLE CALM AND ou,Er
BY GEORGES purpEssp.

PARIS. August 14.-As one month
passes after the other 1t becomes moro
and more evident that when tho Gers
mans are confident that the impulsiva
French nation would rise in disgust and
demand the resignation of Joffre be-
cause OF his inability to win Napoleonio
victories such as the French people
love, they are doomed to utter disap-
pointment. Time and again It has been
said that this war appears to have
transformed tho French people, and
nothing could be more true.
American visitors to France are
scarce this year. but every one sof
these whom I have met have expressed
to me his admiration of the calm and
confident attitude OF the people Of all
classes here. AS the attitude of the
nation was magnificent during the re-
treat from Charleroi. 1t Is even more
magnificent now. after moro than a
year OF silent anguish and suffering.
Our generals as well as our states.
men have made no rash or brilliant
promises OF rapid success. From tho
very beginning they sLw the necessity
OF taking the nation Into their conn-
dence. and they have had and are hay
Ing their reward. General Jofsre as
well S Generals Pan and Foch have
repeatedly told the French people that
the war would be long, hard and sure,
In not single communicate has M at
tempt been made to eNaggerate local
successes or hide local defeats, and ,as
a result no one doubts the veracity OF
the two daily communicates from the
front which are made public with clock.
work regularity, and we all hope n
perfect understanding OF tho generalis-
simo's strategy. which never, changes
and never recklessly exposes our men
for mere effect
PREPARED TO BEAR
ALL TRIALS IMPOSED
Every Frenchman and every French
woman are prepared to bear valiantiy
any fresh trials that may be imposed
upon them. We have all taken tho
measure OF the GsrNnans.aen9K MA knew
that our heroic soldiers have to face
Wild beasts whose ffgr n sttp9reaSssg al
the struggle: is pr6fohRsd HNS5,S$
At the beginning of the war this
Kaiser said that victory would come to
the people who showed no nerves It
was true word, and to-day Isis the
French people and the French, armies.
who are calm, while Germany, the
population at home as we'll as tho
commanders at the front. are becoming
more and more exasr erated. and eI-
ASPIRATION in the fighting line means
losses. which exhausted, Germany can
no longer make good. -t ',ts'.
The Germans may improve ,theirswar
chemistry. Krupp may turn out even
larger and heavier guns and more de-
structive shells. the French will always
be found ready. They are Keeping a;
stiff upper lip. always remembering
that Johre told them months ago that
the war would not be spectacular, but
a long. hard and sure struggle.
In spite of the fact that Germans
strength apears undimnished. we know
that her reserves at home are gradu-
ally becoming exhausted, while French
losses at no time have been greater
than their ability to replace tho men
lost with others.
If the French themselves are modest
in their praise OF what their men at
the front have accomplished, il gives
them great pleasure to read what
others think of them, and the foreign
press has more than once been full o6
admiration of the valor OF our poilus,
Thus the well-known military critic
of Giornale d'Italia. commenting on tho
.
fully studying all available materials
writes: 1T was indeed a grand battle.
and glorious victory for the French.
1t was very much different from the
popular idea OF battle. but its re-
suits are so important that 1t is not
100 much to say that since the battla
If the Marine no battle approaching It
in importance has been fought in tho
western theater OF war.
The French effort was magnihcentu
IN planning rs we'll as in executions
On certain days no less than fourtsen
divisions were engaged at tho same
Kline. and more than hair million pro-
jectiles were fired In twenty four hours.
and from the very beginning the Ger
mans were compelled to fall back
slowly, but steadily.
German pride had reason to believe
and did believe. that Its powerful or
ganization was invincible when on the
defensive. but French valor proved tho
contrary.
GERMAN PRESS SEEKS
TO sow DIsCoRn
ITO SOW discord among the alliea
the German press kept on repeating
that at that time tt was the Russians
who had to bear the brunt Of the strug.
gle while the French did nothing to
make their task easier. Nothing, how.
ever, could be more false than this.
The Germans stated that they had
transferred. at least thirty divisionx
from the western to the eastern front.
This was not true; II was simply an
other German bluff. II indeed the Ger
man eastern armies were re-enforced
from the west. certainly no more than
per cent OF the German electives
were transferred at any time. and from
the moment the battle OF Arras began
the Germans were unable to removeEa
single battalion from their strongly
fortified western line. As matteryof
fact. they even had TO reenforee their
troops opposing the French In that
neighborhood with at least ten divIs-