New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-01
Brands Triumph.

so much as to Aristde BRAND, the French
Premier 1t was his influence, his earnest
and even desperate fight that prevented
the surrender of the whole Near Eastern
field TO the Germans year ago. when the
collapse of Sir Edward Grey's diplomacy
had brought with it the ruin of the Cal
Hpoli campaign and the destruction oil
Serbia.
At that time British policy, political and
military, favored a retreat from the
Ecean. England proposed to defend
Egypt at Suez, to accept the loss IN the
Balkans as complete and leave Germany
control of the route from Berlin to Bag
dad. The late Lord Kitchener was strongly
opposed to the expedition TO Salonlca'
British press and British politicians alike
demanded that the Allies cut their loss by
abandoning a "sideshow" which had been
expensive and disastrous.
To such a policy BRAND interposed a
determined negative. He foresaw the
political and the military perils OF aban-
doning Serbia. He foresaw the tremen-
dous possibilities for Allied interest If Sir
Edward Greys disastrous failure could be
repaired. Above all, BRAND understood
the emotion of the French people, which
was clear and compelling.
The French people, even in their hour
of suffering, were unwilling that Serbia
should be deserted. The time had passed
when there could be any hope of an I'M
mediate deliverance of the little state
But there could at least be gesture, a
beginning, a promise that the greater
Allies would not betray and abandon the
weaker, and to this work BRAND bent ms
efforts.
1t is an open secret now that the de-
cisive influence in the great debate was
lent bv Joffre himself, who made trip to
London and in brief and emphatic words
set forth the military aspects OF the case
and the necessity from a military point OF
view of sending troops to Salonica. Not
easily. but in the end completely the Brit
ish bowed to their French ally, as they
have many times in the war
To-day we see the result. Rumania has
enlisted. the last foundations of Teutonlc
influence in Athens are crumbling, and
oven in Sofia there is whisper that il
NAV be necessary to change sides and
kings. If Serbia is not yet saved or the
bridge between Berlin and Byzantlum
broken, the peril that threatens is not &c
be mistaken, and the Near East, instead OF
being an abandoned sector, has become the
most interesting field in the whole war
This is a far cry from the situation OF
last year, when Bulgaria was taxing the
field. Greece shrinking back from her obi
cation TO help Serbia and Rumania set
fling down TO a condition of sterile neu
tralitv. But at the basis Of the change lies
the army Of the Allies at Salonica, The
army commanded by a French general anC
containing troops sent eastward by
France whose own soil is still occupied by
the invader.
II was no little thing for BRAND, before
the German invader had been driven on
Of France. 10 advocate and carry through
the plan TO send French troops to th'
Kgean. It was no small thing to keel
those troops there all through the Ions
agony Of the attack upon Verdun, which
was sustained by France alone. You ge
an interesting measure of Premier and ma
ton alike in this episode.
Sir Edward Grey believed that the Nea'
Eastern situation could be handled by (
restoration of the old Balkan alliance
which had conquered the Turks in 1912
British military command believed that j
was more useful 10 send British troops T.
GallipoH than 10 the Danube. But wheI
the troops at Gallipoli met defeat, thei
the Bugarians, who had been merely play
ing with the honorable but wholly absur'
policy Of Sir Edward, modified ant
struck at Serbia, left defenceless.
Great as was the first biunder, however
il is now plain that the second, the pro
posed retreat from the Near East, woul'
have been far greater. The story Of how
French diplomacy repaired the mistake
Of British, pulled together the seemingl
hopeless situation and brought it TO tn
present moment Of success will be one o
the most fascinating details Of war his
tory when il can be told in full. II ough
20 be said, Of course, that once Britain ha
yielded 70 French purpose it was Britis
ships that did the larger part Of the work
IL was the British who supplied the large
number Of troops.
War has "A curious way Of elevating a
well az destroying public men. When, a
the time Of the first Economic Conferenc
held in Paris, BRAND, representing hi
nation, sat at the head Of the table, PAR
slams said not inaccurately that no French
man since Napoleon had known such
marvellous rise from poverty, obscurity
priyation 30 the very pinnacle Of Eu
Il a - 1871. U.lnrL