The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-26
GERMANY BEATEN,
SAYS M. VIYIANI
French Premier Declares En-
pirc'S Economic ROut Is
Now Complete.
''FRANCE LACKS NOTHING"
Bs WILLIAM PHILIP SIMNs,

Bs WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMs,
United Press stan Correspondcnt.
Copyright. 1915. by the United Press.
Copyrighted in Great Britain.
PARIS, Feb. 25.-Premier Rene
Niviani pictured Germany to me to-
day as a helrlcssly beaten nation, in
the first iutervi the French Prime
Minister has ever granted any news
paper man. French or foreign. "The
German torrent is checked" he said
decisively.
Germany is militarily stricken. An
implacable blockade is drawing tighter
and tighter about her. Despite all
speculations Germany has taken to
conceal the truth. | can assure you
that her financial and economic rout
is complete"
The interview o o place IN the
Prime Minister'S private office at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Here he works from 5 o'c.ock in the
morning until IL at night. Dressed
in a blue business suit, his hair and
mustache OF iron gray. the man at
the head of the French Government
closely resemhled an American bust
ness man. When ! entered he was
pacing the foor smoking a cigarette.
He tool a seat at a rich Empire ma
hogany desk when the interview be-
san.
Day for day. the present war has
about reached the length of that of
1870" said Premier Nlv.ani. But
what "A difference in Frances situa-
ton TIL first three months OF the
war Of 1870 saw u armies ut Sedan
and Metz prisoners. another army at
Paris invested-iu all over 400 600
men
The world hcllev d France crushed
But ten years after the war, az the
Universal Exposition. she showed the
world the spectacle of a reborn oun
try. France faced her probe ms
square y. resolved To solve her most
arduous interior political questions.
France Retained Ideals.
she r tanned hcr ideals Of fratrr.
nifty and liberty. She applied them To-
her social Jaws. She guaranteed her
!ndep, ndencc both 10y obligatory mill
t y service and by international al
liances and ententes which German
diplomatic duplic!ty often tired with
q success to undo.
ss.-ka, 4, , n,a ht0 xsar arith C.rvnanN
crafty prepared. thcn unclaimed. II
Germany really loved peace. she
might have j. simply by accepting
pourpar'ers at London on July 20, or
-wo days later by accepting the Cars
call to the Hague Tribunal. or, on
July 81. Great Britain's call to sus-
pend military preparations in View
OF negotiations at london. France
and Russia adhered to all these pacific
attempts. but Germany declared war.
She had been modifying for ten days.
Germany has sadly mlscllcula,ed.
She realizes Il now. Without speak
ing OF countries other than my own
Germany expected discords and dis
sessions. Wha, she ran against wa
an mmovable block without factions,
without divsrgencics. Every son of
France ooh up arms. rich, poo So
c|ia,ists. conservatives. free thinkers
and Catholics alike.
To-day Frances policy continues o
be what in the name OF the Govern
ment Il was stated To hc on December
22-'war without mercy We are
unanimous on this pOnt. We are
unanimous IN declaring hat We viii
not accept any hut a victor Gus peace
for All the Niles. The united pact II
September has cur signature, and
for US a treaty is not u scrap " ptpcr.
Our armies are intoc'. They have
checked the German torrent
What was Germany's first objec-
tive point? Paris. She ftil,d to win
IL. Then she tried Dunkirk and then
Calais. She left 200. 900 cadavers or
the User, but she did not pass, TIT
same thing happened at Nancy AND
at Nerdun. Germany wat thrown
aside. Her military power is hard
hit. Economically she Is ruined.
Fight to bitter End.
AN implacable blockade is drawinl
tighter and tighter about her. Despit,
all precautions h has taken 20 con
ceal the truth, | can assure you tina
her financial and economic rout Il
complete, II her cities which tour
lists visit retain the appearance o
prosperity. it is TO the detriment of tn
country districts, which are beinl
famished in order TO put up appear
anCcs before the outside world.
"France's economic and fnancia
cituotIOn is normal dpSpItn the epnr