Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-09

@s==zsss1fS c. lent French M
H1LAIRE BELLoc Bernard shaw "ae
G. Wells are doubling whether II II,
ever be possible to reach decision IN NJ
field and are insisting that Germanv J..
not and must not be crushed, Ralio. \
demanding and foretelling the uttar &
initiation Of the German Empire whu.
Wells hopes for an inconclusve pe.ca
prove the futilty of militarism ana.s
tablish new tradition in European dInla
| macy, Belloc is for decisive u.r
which to re.establish the old trad,,,ou !.
Europe against which he sees the bis,o-.
OF an aggressive Prussia as one long r.
| bellion.
AT time when every other day brine.
some new talk Of inconclusive peace ~,
probability, the reason for this unco, {
promising steadfastness of SO sober .na E
reliable a historian as Belloc is wor,s
study. The reason is bound up with n.
remarkable career and personality.
Served in French Army
An Englishman, who has sat IN -.
House or Commons, 1t is as man IN
whom the French blood is predominar.
that Belloc interprets Europe. After N.
schooling in England he served in n.
French army as driver in the Sth Rssi
ment OF artillery. His religion is that II s
catholic France and not of Protestant
England. But his knowledge of Enelsh E
history and character is as intimate y
his knowledge of the French. AS trav
l. .Al -
or valley in western Europe that he bsv
not Vlslted-and his visits have not been
those OF sightseer, but of one who lived s
the lie OF the people, in their inns. II
their small homes, talking their Ian.
guage, Joining in their worship. He ba,
got not only his estimate of the charactsr
oI peoples, but also his history, at hrst B
mana. For he talks of the Roman road
as one who has trudged it himself recon.
the past step by step. and IL
talks oil the ancient tradition of Christian
Europe as one who is loyal to it in his
own life.
for this reason when, upon the German
INVASION OF northern France, the public
men Oh england were losing their heads.
oeiioc calmly kept his. He knew what.
ne French artillerymen could do becausa
lie was one of them. He knew that the
plrlt that made the amateur French
'rfny repulse the professional Pruss!sn
rmv at Valmy in 1892 would show itself
men the time came, and to him the bat
&c Vi the Marne was simply the resurree =
ION OF the spirit of Danton and Garnet
'hicn saved the Revolution and democ
aoS' roilihs back once more the tides Of
russian and Austrian autocracy.
Ihe value of history is to teach lis 10
itefpret the present rightly. Convinced
nat the France of TODAY is essentially
ne same France that DESTROYED forevsr
&c uiVlhe right of kings a century ago
eloc calmly reads this present war in
lie light of what followed Valmy. Few
'rsons realize today how hopeless the
Iuse OF the French Revolution looked in
e iace OF the invasion that was sweep
nearer and nearer Paris at the tims
the trial or Marie Antoinette. France e
ruck or the head of that queen asa
lallense to all Europe That is how
'ance deals with monarchs, and it is In
spirit of similar righteous ferocity that
e Is ready to deal with monarchs today
Believes in Attrition
So while suggestions of an incon
isiVe peace have come from every
ler nelligerent country at one time Or
other no Frenchman has uttered any
'n suggestion, except the biting one
II peace will come when Germany is on
knees. Belloc believes that Germany
u presently be on her knees He bases
oeiler largely on the numerical su
lority OF the Allies and the exhausted
the German reinforcements-"attri
lhe constant loss of irreplaceahls
H. Ihls attrition is, OF course. &c
npanied by attrltion OF the allied
Mes but 1t is maintained that the
man method of fighting causes them y
ater net losses. France is willing %
the cost OF bleeding GERMANY
lte' Terrible as that is, there is no
son 10 doubt that Belloc has rightly In.
'reted the French as being steadfastly
oted TO that end. Russia Is able %
TWO men 10 Germany's one. and seems
~ 10 pay the price TO the end. Ens
l. because she is not suffering aa
srely as her allies, has no excuse for
continuing. Therefore, already out
ipered' Germany is in the position q
ehesspiayer, who Is outnumbered spd
Is forced to exchange loss after los
his opponent until he has nothing
This is the Belloe theory Of The
le theory stands or falls with bic
~ OF reading the present temper q
French in the light OF their temps
imilar crises in the past, II he
T. the way win. indeed. end on the
OF the war map, In the words Of TIE
nan Chancellor. But that war map
q consist Of one nne-a black sae
owing circle around the city Of Bef