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

&c French. so bitter 81 the Aght
gat where the trenches OF the two
.des approach very near each ether
IN effort Is often mace TO clean up
he intervening space by catching
The bodies Ot the offensive dead by
hooks fastened on ropes OF on long
poles and dragging them I'm where
they can be disposed OF. II would
seem that the two SIDES would be
equally interested in the success Of
iuch Cfforts. Yet the firirg never
eases. The man who exposes him
elf IN the effort TO hook a dead
nan 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
-ri;lcism OF what has seemed the
British sterility. In Paris. however
political situation has arisen. The
outs" do not seem so much 10 want
20 Gust the "ins"-for no other man
OF calibre sufficient 10 take Aristide
Brands place at the head OF the
cabinet seems visible Just now-as
they want 10 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
terly and forever end the Teutonic
menace 10 European peace.
Things have gone wrong at Yer
dun" has been the cry OF these poll
ticians. Let US have a secret ses-
sion Of parliament that we may ind
out what II was that went wrong at
verdun."
In order 10 gain popular sup
port for this demand these politi.
clans have greatly exaggerated the
events at Verdpn. II the Germans
have a success--and either party
can have a success whenever II will
pay the price-hints and insinua-
tions and fears appear In those pa
pers provided with editorial writers
sufficiently adrolt 10 escape the cen
sor. When things go right there Is
obviously no political advantage TO
be gained in emphasizing the fact.
BRAND can only be attacked by at
lacking Jofrre. for the only govern
ment business Of France just now
Is in. fighting the German In order
10 attack the premier, 1t is being In
dicated that Joffre:
Failed 20 comprehend the nature
of. the German dispositions before
Vcrdun.
l3 rot strong enough TO compel The
British army to tote its end OF the
log.
The latter charge-which naT .
fully whipped out in tho secret ..
sion which seems certain TO COM
g. supported by the whispered
cation one hears On Cvc-y 50,
corner: "Jorre asked Gro ag. -
to come 10 his aid In The 'y -
OF the Verdun asht, and taCs rairs
ed. They said they were 30, ready %
All the evidence available show
that this Is entirely untrue. | an
informed by man In q position to
know the truth that Gen. Robert. or
asked Joffre what help he wanted
and that Joffre asked him 10 take
over a sector OF the French line. IL
order to release certain troops need.
ed al 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 I'M
Outstanding which exists between
the chiefs OF the two armies is that
It permits a coordination OF work
and plans that had never been posi-
BILE before. There is no concealment
here that some French leaders felt
certain distrust for Gen. French.
His arrangements sometimes Went
wrong and he lacked something or
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 10 be
on terms OF cordial cooperation
A very natural impotence has
been manifested at the immobility
OF the British army-at the triiing
amount OF lighting they have done
compared with the tremendous
amount OF lighting thai has been
done In France. That impotence
bore fruit In the Artois offensive
which failed-just as a similar polit.
ical pressure In France forced Jonre
into the Champagne offensive. which
was likewise a 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 or 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
parity OF preparation and material
with the foe.