The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-20
WE MUST FIGHT
 ON TO VICTORY,
 SAYS P0|NCARE
French President Places Alsace-Lorraine First In
 Nations Hope.

l mas received EQWard Marshall, al American newspaper writer, at tn
 Palace of the Elysee and talked witt
 him in regard to President Wilson note and the reply of the Allies. Tn,
 crux of the interview appears in thes
 words of the President:
 we are condemned to continu, the war until we-our gallant allie
 and ourselves-can obtain the repa
 rations and guarantees rendered in ] dispensable by the aggressions O.
 which we have been the victims, by the sacrifices to which we have sub jected ourselves, and by the losse.
 which we have suffered
 Friend of America
 ] May I tell America that France 1 is our. friend, even though we are not fighting with herr" the American visitor asked.
 '"The United States of America ! and France are closely united by inef- faceable common recollections, by the same political traditions, by the same attachment to free institutions,'' said President Poincare. '"This war
 which Germany unloosed upon Flu rope and which France did every thing to avoid, could not alter the good relations between the United States and France. It has even made th>m closer and strengthened them
 'The United States" M. Poincare continued, "have remained neutral, but the sympathies of individuals in every section have manifested them selves in favor of France and her allies. We have been deeply moved by innumerable demonstrations of friendship. There never has been a day since soon after the beginning of the war on which I have not person. ally received from America volumi- nous mail containing generous offer ings for our invaded populations, for our war widows and our war orphans. The letters which accompany these tributes emanate from all social classes and often are expressed in very moving words Other letters bring to me warm wishes for the vic- tory of France.
 {. For the Liberty of Peoples.
 Your great country surely under stands that we, the Allies, are fighting not only for our own independence and our own national honor but for a much wider cause, which goes fur ther than the boundaries of our own interests. We are fighting for the rights of the individual and for the liberty of peoples.
 The violation of Belgium brings out the symbolical significance of this whole war. Germany was not satis- fled with declaring war upon us with out provocation. She had willed to butcher us without warning, and to foir eI, %,,- her feet in passing little, innocent people. This is enough evidence by which to judge the responsibilities of our enemies; it is enough to define the nature of the struggle in which we are engaged. The United States have made no mistake about this"
 Are you willing to make some com ment with regard to President Will son's note?" the correspondent asked.
 Knowing as we do the feelings of America, we have not failed to under stand the thought which inspired the recent initiative of President Wilson," M. Poincare replied. we were at once convinced that in the mind of the illustrious President the sugges- ton made to the belligerents was in accord with the traditional friendship between our two nations.
 Forced to Fight On.
 "But, being conscious that we are fighting for mankind, we find our selves without the right to lay down our weapons before we can sign a peace really humane; that is to say founded upon principles which would make it workable and lasting, which ho iSfo hn ioh hfc of nations and which would spare the world from the repetition of such a terrible catastrophe as this war.
 ''Unhappily, it is certain that Ger many, who pretends now to consider herself victorious, although she can hardly entertain any doubt as to the necessary peace. We therefore are to continue the war.
 "The answer which the Allied na- tions collectively have just given to President Wilson is perfectly clear in this respect. For our part, we have nothing to conceal We were att tackled. We are defending ourselves. But we are not willing to be obliged to defend ourselves perp tually against fresh attacks. Therefore we are determined to have repArations for the past and guarantee for the future." WAR Three BIB
 "You feel that the President was Justified in putting to the belligerent powers the questions which he asked?" the correspondent inquired.
 "It will not be from our side,'' said t'Pofncare ,'i''that will come any repulse of the generous ideas of President Wilson regarding the in ternational agreements to be con- cluded as soon as the peace is signed in order to assure respect for the pledges given. On the contrary, we very willingly shall associate our- selves with his noble intentions. But in order that such understandings later may produce their full, benefi- cent effect, we must begin by restor- ] ing the right violated and by protect ing Europe against a peace which | would contain the germ of further l outrages.
 Wants Provinces Back.
 The correspondent asked President l Poincare whether France felt the re- turn of her lost provinces, Alsace and | Lorraine, as well as the restoration | of Belgium. essential to the conclu- sion of satisfactory peace.
 ''In our reply" said President Poin- care, i've also have spoken of the | restitution of provinces torn away in he past by main strength or separat- 1 ed from us against the will of their