The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-06-19

DC french. SO bitter H. the fight
Eat where the trenches OF the two
des approach very near each ether
IN effort Is often mace 10 clean up
he intervening space by catching
the bodies Of the offensive dead by
hooks fastened on ropes or on long
poles and dragging them In where
they can be disposed OF II would
seem that the two SIDES would be
equally interested In the Success OF
such Efforts. Yet the firirg never
leases. The man who exposes him
elf In the effort TO hook a dead
man will that moment be dead him.
self
These things are fully understood
In Paris. at least by the leaders OF
those who have beer prominent In
criticism OF what has seemed the
British sterility. In Paris, however,
! political situation has arisen. The
outs" do not seem so much 20 want
10 Gust the "ins"-for no other man
( OF caltbre SUFFICIENT to take Aristide
| Brands place at the head OF the
cabinet seems visible just now-as
| they want TO make trouble for the
government. A score OF personal and
political reasons have succeeded In
uniting half a dozen ordinarily an
tagonistic groups, from the peace-at
any-price party to those most unre-
lenting In their determination to ut
teriy and forever end the Teutonic
menace TO European peace.
Things have gone wrong at Yer
dun" has been the cry OF these poll
tlcians. LET us have secret SEES
sion Of parliament that we may find
out what II was that went wrong at
Verdun."
In order 10 gain a popular sup
port for this demand these politi'
clans have greatly exaggerated the
events at verdun. IL the Germans
have a success-and either party
can have a success whenever u will
pay the price--hints and insinua-
tions and fears appear In those pa
pers provided with editorial writer's
sufficiently adroit 10 escape the cen
sor When things go right there IL
obviously no political advantage 10
be gained in emphasizing the fact.
BRAND can only Re attacked by at
lacking Joffre, for the only govern
ment business Of France just now
Is I'm fighting the German. In order
10 attack the premier, II Is being In
dicated that Joffre
Failed 10 comprehend the nature
Of the German dispositions before
Nerdln.
Is rot strong enough TO compel The
British army to tote It's end of TIT"
log.
The latter charge-which may t.
fully whipped out in the secret sos
sion which seems certain TO como
f. supported by the whispered sitc
CATION one hears on cvc.y ST.
corner: "Jofre asked the Bri'iEs
10 come 10 his aid in the hr-i week
of the Verdun fight. and they re'us
ed. They said they were not ready
All the evidence available shows
that this Is entirely untrue. | Am
informed by man in position to
know the truth that Gen. Robertson
asked Joffre what help he wanted,
ard that Joffre asked him 10 take
over a sector OF the French line, In
order 10 release certain troops need
ed at Verdun.
Wen send men and guns II you
need them" said Robertson.
III need them I'll CALL" said
Joffre.
The importance OF the candid IN
derstanding which exists between
the chiefs OF the two armies is that
II permits a coordination OF work
and plans that had never been posi-
BILE before. There Is no concealment
here that some French leaders felt
a certain distrust for Gen. French.
His arrangements sometimes went
wrong and he lacked something OF
the essential brutality that enters
into the makeup OF every good sol
der. He was prone to spare his
men at the cost OF smashed plans.
Robertson Is not that sort. Robert.
son and Joffre are understood to be
on terms OF cordial cooperation.
A very natural impotence has
been manifested at the immobility
OF the British army-at the tritiing
amount OF fighting they have done
compared with the tremendous
amount OF fighting thi has been
done In France. That impotence
bore fruit In the Artois offensive
which failed-just as a similar polit
zeal pressure In France forced Joffre
into the Champagne offensive. which
was likewise q practical failure, even
II a little ground was gained. The
Artois and the Champagne and other
abortive offensive movements on the
western front In the past are to be
taken as evidences OF an uncer
tainty, a nervous haste, a partial
failure on the part OF the allies to
comprehend the strength OF the en-
envy. That has disappeared. For
the first time since the war began
the allied troops are reaching
s.x 80 mama rafion and material