The Detroit times., 1915-10-06
BY HERBERT COREY

war began prophets OF evil have
been predicting break" in France
The government was 10 20 TO pieces.
the command OF the army was TO
be changed. and disorganization
was to be complete. As natural
result a separate peace would be
made by France.
THE French people are politically
unstable" they insisted They do
not stand fire well. Then-there is
The Man on Horseback.
Upon the surface there was some
ground for this belief. French pol
tiles have been volcanic. Frances
adversaries usually counted upon
some measure OF administrative
weakness. There is dissension over
the church, and there is still a roy
alist party here. Impotence at the
slow progress toward victory was
apparent. II was feared that France
might view most sullenly being ask
cd TO undergo another winter cam
paign, In view of the heavy finan-
cial losses which almost every in
dividual has sustained. not TO speak
OF the toll OF death In nation
which has called almost every man
OF military age to war. There has
been dissatisfaction with the part
Great Britain has played--a dissat-
isfaction based upon lack OF infor-
nation, but readily understandable
In view OF the fact that English pa
pers have criticized the fact that
England has been holding but 35
miles OF the western front 10 almost
500 held by France.
The break mas come and gone.
The parliamentary crisis which end
ed in a spntter this week was sufii-
Client proof that the French people
are solidly with the government
There Is no longer any fear OF an
overturn The prophets are silenc-
ed. This people the world has call
ed mercurial have proved they can
remain at fighting heat.
To thoroughly understand this
weeks event one should have com
plete knowledge of French politics
Avoiding a discussion OF this tangled
theme, however. 1t may be asserted
that the pot which recently boiled
over was put on the fire some years
before the war France has been
proud of her army. With that pride
has gone a fear OF "the man on
A large element In
France have firmly believed that m
der favorable conditions another die
tator might arise. A general who
proved himself great in war might
become another Napoleon. France
loves a great fighting man.
Joffre was made commandment.
chief because no one believed In
him. He is a taciturn, buslness.like
commonplace man OF the people. Il
was believed that he lacks those
qualities which win the
popular heart. He was also a thor
oughly good officer. whose service
had been excellent. but not distin-
guished. II was thought that ne
would be an excellent. stodgy, mat
ter of.fact head. Gems. Fitch and
and Sarrail were also con.
sidered for the position. not to speak
Of others. The the named were
held not available because they be
long TO the Royalist party. 4 return
to a monarchy Is thought OF hor
ror to the republican element In
France.
In part Jorre made good th'
unfiattering reputati-H
which gained him promotion. Hc
lid not attract public attention be
fore the war. He proved himself E
good soldier, whose thoughts were
only for the army. He dismissed
generals almost by the squad be.
cause they were not good soldiers
In doing so he made a legion OF en-.
cmies In the army ana out. II the
war had not come he would have
been forgotten in six months after
his retirement His course In the
war was approved by the French
people. but not by a large element
Of the politicians. II remained 10
be demonstrated that these politi-
clans were not the people.
Joffre dismissed more generals al
tor hoatilitteg hogan and that made
more enemies Now II IL recognized
that his retreat was a mastery bit
OF military strategy. II was not so
recognized up to the battle OF the
Marne In standing by him. Presi
dent Poincaire's administration took
on a fresh burden OF unpopularity
with the politicians Meanwhile
the French people were exercised
over the admitted deficiencies OF
the medical service There was
continual talk OF graft In the pur
chase OF supplies OF all sorts. II is
freely admitted that outrageous
prices were paid in those days for
materials. what was not recogniz-
ed was that France must have the
supplies. She got them. There
was no dangerous shortage any
where. Ranked with this fact loss
OF money was OF no moment
As net result. however, a very
strong body OF members OF parlia-
ment ranked themselves against the