The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-12-28
By lrping r. Bacon

BY IrcH1g X. bacon
LHocH was the mighty arm which
smote the German: and forced
them to sue for peace: but the head
which energ!zed that arm and gave
It power to strike was the astonlsh-
ing Clemcnceau, the prime minister
and war lord OF France.
For forty-Seven years had Georges
Benjamin Clemenceau nurscd tho
sacred flame OF protest against the
German domination OF Alsace and
Lorraine the provinces which Ger
many wrcS:ed from France. And
during all that Ions period his one
dream and hope had been that he
might I've to see them restored to
their rtSt;tul country.
He was thirty when. in 1871. as the
leader OF the Radicals In the National
Assembly. he opposed the pea ice which
gave to Germany so large and beau.
tiful part OF France. He was seven
ty-seren when. in 1915. as Prime Minis.
ter he dedicated the peace which re-
incorporated with the French soil the
provinces that had been torn away.
On March S. 1918. before the Ger
mans had begun their second big
drive. but when many in France were
clamoring for peace. he said in the
Chamber Of Deputies:
II have but ono ambition. and that
IS to serve my country. My whole
policy is to preserve the country's
morale. In all wars he Is the con-
queror who. for quarter Of an hour
longer than his adversary. can believe
he is not beaten. Everybody desires
peace-myself like everybody else
but it Is not By bleating about peace
that we shall destroy the Prussian
nlilitarism."
Americans Are Coming
And again addressing the Chamber
OF Deputies on June 5, 1915 when
: the Germans new big drive toward
Paris was under way and the Social:
lists in the chamber were denouncins
Clemenceau for the disaster which
appeared to be inevitable. he said
calmly:
The moment is perllous: but the
courage of our soldiers is equal to the
situation, and they have good chiefs.
Our duty is very simple Our
resolve must be to carry on the fight
to the end. The Americans are
arriving. We are stalking the game
upon the help OF the Americans.
Our electives and those Of Eng
land are being exhausted as are those
OF the Germans, The struggle now
turns upon Americas participation.
Have you not the patience to wait?
IF have not done my duty, turn
me out. II I have your confidence.
let me complete the work which our
lead have begun"
- And then. on October Is. 1918. when
he had Completed the work" and. the
: victory WAS Won. ne once more ad-
dressed the Chamber. which this time.
hailed him as the Deliverer OF
France.
Our victory is not 4 victory OF re-
vense." he said: our victory and the
victory of our allies means the liberia.
ton of civilization and the enlancipa-
ton Of human conscience"
Never since the time OF RIchelieu
he's France been so loved BY any Of
her SONS with a love SO romantic as
by Clemenceau. is the testimony OF
those who admire him.
An American writer, who appears
not to have liked him. writing Of him
on March 20. 1915. when Clemenceau
was chairman Of the French Senate's
War and Foreign Affairs Committees.
said
AT twenty-five he (Clemenceaul had
the appearance OF a man Of fifty. A.
seventy-five. his haggard face and bald
head sometimes look as II suddenly
revealed from the Surroundings Of the
grave. The cynical smile on his lips,
speaking OF dlsitiuSionment. complete
and irrevocab!e. IS tho farewell Of an
DID, old man 20 his youthful dreams.
But the mention Of France trans
forms tire cace The black eyes be-
come inaamed. alive with passion and
fara.:cal devotion. as ne says:
mo sight of countries and OF men:
no grace OF earth; no Splendor OF the
heavens could wear away from my
heart the love OF my native soil. By
its charm I was possessed, its charm
still holds me. This is our land: here
our fathers sleep in peace and here,
too. we shall sleep when our days
work Is done"
Romance and Ambition Unite
America has a particular incentive
to regard this man with more than
common interest. He lived in this
country several years; practiced medi-
cine for while in New York; taught
school In Stamford, Conn, and mar.
ricd an American girl.
Romance, poverty. ambition, love OF
country. fearless Fenturesomeness.
genius and boundless enthusiasm are
the elements Of which his life-work
has been compounded. No novel has
anything more stirring. more startling.
more inspiring than this great French
mans career whose exploits have won
Inn the sobriquets OF tho Tiger,
Destroyer Of. Ministries" King
maker" Father Victory" and DE