Evening star., 1916-12-14
To Stand by Convention.

II have the right, in the first place, to
say to our enemies for the hundredth
time, The blood is on your hands. not
upon ours Not that 1 doubt the clear
sightedness of my country, but in the
face Of these attempts to spread dis
sension among the allies I exclaim.
The French republic win not do less
than the convention. +" '--f-e'
=. The chamber held large number Of
equities who desired to Witness the
first appearance Of the new cabinet NJ.
BRAND, instead OF reading the declara-
tion of the program of the reorganiZed
ministry, outlined it extemporaneous-
ly. The premier said that in secret
session most delicate questions had
been considered. The socialists inter-
rupted the speaker with cries of NO"
chamber, soon succeeded in restoring
order. NJ. BRAND then continued:
The government is ready for all dis
cussions and all explanations" He re-
ferred to the adoption by the chamber
of a resolution demanding reorgani-
zation in the conduct Of the war. the
constitution of a war committee and
modification in the high command. He
said the war committee would sit per-
manently and that it would increase
the production of war necessities.
mo one can say that l have ever
been unduly optimistic" said NJ BRAND.
But today. however, more than ever
We must have the conviction that VIC
tory is certain.
"In a war such as this, in which en-
tire nations confront each other, deci-
sive results cannot be attained rapidly.
Rumanian Army Not Destroyed.
at Is true that the valiant Ruma-
mans have bent under the first shock,
but let us examine the facts more
closely
1.-The Rumanian army has not been de-
stroyed; IT has been reorganiZed with
the help of the gallant Russian armies
Tomorrow a new front of from ESQ to
300 miles will be formed down there
for the eastern question is far from be-
ing settled. And if the enemy armies
now fighting against Rumania were
not held there, you must admit, they
would be employed on some other
front"
Premier BRAND accompanied his de-
nunciation of the German peace offer
as d trap with an announcement that
he would ask for Increased power
with which to carry on the war. At
the same time the premier promised
that the government would not under
take any scheme of national mobiliza-
tion. such as that involved in the Ger
man home army plan.
Evidently" said the premier, ere
necessary to recall what has happened
In 1915 After eight months it is not a
German. but a French victory which
| in truth. has been inscribed on French
nags. The premier referred to the
French success at Eerdun and the
gains made on the Somme, and derided
Germany for its claim of victory while
IT was taking such mea sures az what
he termed the mi!itarising of the en-
tire population.
The chamber applauded unanimously
when he affirmed that the war govern
rnent OF France would not follow the
policy OF Germany. He asked, how
ever. for power to regulate ali aues-
tions concerning the national defense
including the possibility of requisition
but said that if the latter sten was
considered necessary 1t would not be
| carried out inconsiderateiy
More Intense Next Spring.
Premier BRAND expressed the GER
tainty that some of the measures taken
| by Germany have behind them the OBJ
ject OF intensifying the war next spring
when. he said she will have stronger
armies to face. He warned France te