Arizona republican., 1916-06-02
The Bleeding of France

At the outbreak of the war and soon after, many things said and done by German writers and statesmen that had much to do with turning the sym pathy of neutras toward the allies. That sympathy been felt much for all the members of the for of them-France. There special in this country among the great of the people for Great Britain Russia. As we were more closely bound to Germany than any of the other beigerents because of the number of German American citizens in almost every com- munity and because of the high estimation in which they held citizens Moreover, entertained admiration for German institutions, for German social industrial methods that felt for those other country.
 But there unfortunate expression by distinguished German which has had remarkable effect upon the American people who somehow under stood it to be national expression-a declaration that it the purpose of Germany ito bleed France white" There ghastliness in this expression that impressive and fixing We do not think that Germany had such a purpose that Germany would have preferred leave France of the fct and to to conclusions only with Great Brit ain and Russia There has been, according to counts, such German bitterness toward France toward Russia and Great Britain The expression, however. took firm hold and this country filled with pity for France which thereby served all the allies by turning neutral sympathy toward them.
 But whether not it the German intention in the beginning bleed France white" that process is going That undoubtedly the meaning of the beginning of the battle of verdun which has been raging for months, almost without cessation There strategic for taking Verdun; would not made Paris any easier. It could mean only loss of prestige France and that recognized that the French military leaders disposed to give it up without costly defense But French statesmen overruled them for they saw what a serious blow it would be to French pride and timent
 Nerdun though previous to the invention of the Big Bertha and the Skoda the strongest fortified place in Europe with the introduction of these guns ceased to be a stronghold It is longer defended from within but from without. But it was the point which the French for sentimental would resolutey defend than another the frontier. It was in a salient to which French would be brought for slaughter than any other and it there, therefore that the Germans chose to begin in earnest the bleeding And France is getting white Germany would have preferred of bleed Russia but it is impossible bleed Russia white. Great Britain not within reach and has not within reach of such a process. France alone the country to which the process of exhaustion of could be applied
 Not many things have happened in this the foremost military expert predicted Things have generally gone by contraries But there one pre- diction which turns out to have been accurate. It that there would be Sedan. The not to be by one, series of great movements. Smashes and drives would be intellectual Whole armies would not be captured. The side which could kill permanently disable the greater number of the enemy would win After the failure of von Klucks drive other attempted is likely to be at tempted the western front Eon HindenburSs drive made chiefly for the occupation of territory The Balkan drive to secure the southwestern front and to hold Rumania in check. well as to open a line to Turkey. Then Germany settled down to bleeding the enemy.