Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-29
VERDUN STRUGGLE
HOLDSATTENTION
Great Conflict on Western Front Dr.
yerts French Minds from Many
Petty Squabblings.
ALL THOUGHTS PLACED ON END
Civilians Talk OF Outcome OF Fight and
Express Confidence in Their Sol.
diers' Ability.

Paris.-Correspondence Of The AS
ISOLATED Press.) The battle Of Yer
dun appears to have had great moral
effect in France. 1t has turned atten-
ton from irritating discussions over
details of the conduct Of the war and
has cut short an incipient revival Of
partisan spirit in parliament and in
the press, which has been favored by
relative stagnation at the front. Also
it seems to have diminished the num-
Der of pessimists and hence increased
French confidence in the final out
come.
They have shot their bolt IS a
frequent commentary heard in places
where two months ago there were
nervous complaints as TO the prolonga-
ton of hostilities. They can DO no
more than they have done, which is
far from enough to shake the French
army"
Shortly before the Germans attacked
verdun some radical and socialist pa
pers attacked the priests, the clericals
and the easy" class, charging them
with Sinking arduous and DANCE JUS
missions. No priest or aristocrat. Aey
said, had ever been seen in a trench.
They also accused them of aiding and
abetting the Germans after having
helped to bring on the war in the hope
that a disaster to France would over
throw the republican or parliamentary
regime. They accused them of send
ing money to Germany TO subscribe to
the German war loans. A wineshoD
keeper of the Department of Lot who
repeated these accusations was pros
ecuted and sentenced to three years
Imprisonment and was fined 1000
| francs.
The campaign against the priests and
| clericals was even taken up by such
conspicuous writer as Monsieur Paul
Adam, who made similar charges in
the leading radical newspaper Of the
south of France, the Depeche de Tou-
! louise and drew upon himself storm
| of protest. The battle Of Verdun did
far more to stop the campaign than
the conviction of the wineshop man or
the Lot and the protests against the
articles of Monsieur Paul Adam. 1t
has, perhaps, accomplished even more
than the letter of the premier, Mon
sieur BRAND, declaring that all such
calumnies should be punished. Today
all parties, including the socialists
who have just renewed their declara-
| ton in favor of war to the bitter end,
are working in harmony.
About two months ago it was posi-
| BILE to witness such incidents as that
which took place in little cafe in the
center of Paris. Two soldiers in
stained uniforms, smacking Of the
front, were taking their morning COT
| fee in a retired corner, modestly and
| inConspicuously as is the way with the
men who have seen real service. They
were concealed from two civilians who
were discussing the war. I've had my
| fill of it," said one Of the civilians. Its
time it was brought to finish. If the
generals in command can't do it they
ought to be replaced"
One of the soldiers rose to his feet
and confronted the pessimist. My
good friend" he said, you must have
had a hard time of it. When were you
mustered out. Tell US what you've
done in the war and what the wars
done to you to give you such a tired
feeling" The civilian gulped down the
rest of the coffee and rushed out OF
the cafe without replying.
Today the cafe conversations are
about some exploit about Verdun and
what will happen to the Germans If
they persist in their effort to take the
ancient stronghold.
There is also less discussion Of the
high cost of living than two months
ago, although there has been no APP
preciahle easing of prices. This, too,
is accounted for by the heroic resist
ance of the army.