The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-10

carried out after the Germans retook
Mulhouse and the surrounding conn
try. Burned houses, innocent citizens
put to Jail or shot-these have beer
the means used to quell the enthusiasts
tic ontburst for the entry of the
French into Alsace.
Many Serving for France.
The most sacred and holy tribute
AlsAce and Lorraine could give to their
mother country was the blood and soul
OF their offsprings. They did so with
generosity and feryor. In 1914. ac-
cording to the French war department,
there were a great many native Asa
tians and Lorrainers serving under the
French tricolor. There were 20 gem
erals. some of whom stand in the very
first rank and are among the most dis
tinguished leaders in the French army
today, such as Mauld'huy, Micheler,
Dubail. Mangin, d'Urbal. who were
born at Metz. Phalsbourgh. Belfort
Sarrebourg and Sarreguemines, re-
sectively, 145 superior officers and sew
eral thousand inferior officers. An
incident will illustrate the indomitable
spirit found among the brave soldiers
OF Alsace and Lorraine. When Gen
era1 Maud'huy was leaving for tho
front the day the war broke out, his
younger son on clasping him tight, said !:
Father. love you and love my
brother. but il the freedom of Metz de-
mands your lives. SO be it,
The Buffer State Plan.
Charitable people interested in the
welfare Of Alsace and Lorraine, judg-
ing that the amalgamation OF the
French and German elements Is we'll
nigh hopeless task. have suggested
making a buffeDpstate out OF the two
provinces and making them autono-
nous. This suggestion is most un-
fortunate when applied to Alsace and
Lorraine. We know by this time what
buffer states mean. Belgium and Lux
emburg are significant instances. A
sort Of buffer state was already ere
ated long ago by the treaty Of verdun
In 843. and its political complications
and fiasco belong to history. 1t would
lead again to q bellicose agitation and
everlasting threat to: the peace Of Eu-
rope. It would mean tracing over again
the same steps made since the signing
OF the treaty OF Verdun. This artifi-
cial continuance is but waste and a
cruel nightmare.
A referendum has been suggested
Why was a referendum SO carefully
avoided by the Germans in 1871? A
referendum now would approve and
Recognize Germany's right OF invasion
and conquest. How could a population
terrorized into submission by Prussian
officials and eventually threatened
with unmerciful retaliation be expect
ed to vote freely? Who would answer
for the authenticity and accuracy of
the figures? Have not the Alsatians
and Lorrainers through their own
deputies voiced their feelings most un-
reservedly and most unequivocally at
Bourdeaux in 1871. and at Berlin in
1874. and all the time up to the eve OF
the war? A referendum. what for ?
For the deaf. for the blind? Yet France
Is not afraid of referendum and
:vould await the results most conf
IDENTIFY. There should. however, be two
conditions. The swarm of vultures
representing the German officialdom
should be eliminated from the ballot
boxes and the Alsatians and Lorrainers
who fled Prussianism and emigrated
to France or TO other countries ought
to be given the right to vote. -ss~
Statistics Calm Fears.
Timorous people feel that France will
be unwise II she insists upon the re-
turn Of her two provinces because she
will have the same troubles with the
German element that the Germans
have had with the French element.
It Is showing, indeed. too much con-
Germ for the paltry aggregation of Ger
man invaders consisting chiefly of Of
ficials and their families. Statistics
will put at ease these people still In
the frances of the German hypnotic
spell. According to a census Of 1910
there were roughly 100000 people in
Alsace and Lorraine distributed as fol-
lows:
Pet.
Alsatians and
Lorrainers .........,.,-,.. 1,4s5, 900 ss.42
saSihans ------..-...-.--.-.---.- 100000 1870
Foreigners -,---,--.--.--..---- $4,000 AIS
These figures show some rama rIx