Evening star., 1918-08-18

To be made of the splendId work oy
the American troops. undertook to
o'sparase them by ciassing them with
tho Senegalese and other black troops
OF France
rms was very conclusive evidence
that Germany was peeved. 1t also
was reminder OF what the French
colonials have done and are still do-
Ing to win the war,
American troops whether white or
black, have no reason to be ashamed
or being classed with the Senegalese.
In the first months of the war in the
Nghting in Alasce- Lorraine. it was
tho Senegalese who struck terror into
inc discipline of the German troops
ana, apparently, after four years. they
are still striking terror.
France. taking her possessions
throughout the world. has 40. .00O. 900
warrior subjects. They hardly can be
called reserve man power. because
they have not been kept In reserve.
put they are numerous enough to
form reserve resource. A year ago.
when the German propaganda sought
TO spread the belief that France was
Dled white, 1t entirely ignored the
iO,0O0.000 war rior subjects. 1t was not
true. as events have shown. that
France proper was bled white. But
there Is no question about the value
of the colonial troops In keeping up
the stream of good red fighting blood.
1t Ia one Of Germany's bitter disap-
pointments that her own hopes Of
partially successful issue of the war
which would enable her to obtain an
African empire and train millions Of
blacks for cannon fodder has been de-
stroyed. while Frances colonial
strength remains unimpaired.
Il
People in Washington who during
the last few months have had occa-
sion 10 meet the French officers In this
country have themselves been sur
prised at the extent OF Frances colo
nial power. Almost invariably 1t
would be disclosed that this or that
officer had served in Madagascar. in
equttorial Africa, in Cochin China or
half a dozen other widely scattered
parts OF the world where the French
flag represents dominion. Expert
ences Of this kind and the casual
manner in which the French officers
discussed them were Illuminating.
1t was one of the admitted purposes
into war to shatter the French CO.
lonial power. In the days before
France made a stand at Morocco.
when Germany was able to dictate
who her foreign minister should be,
the solid foundation OF French CO.
lonial strength had been laid by M.
Delcasse. Germany at the time could
browbeat France into dismissing this
builder Of colonial commonwealth. but
1t could not undo his work. And then
came the Moroccan incident, Ger
many's discovery that France was
matte retreat with the nominal COM
pensation of territory in equitorial
Africa which was valueless to Berlin.
Though there is little public discus
sion of the subject. IT is we'll UNDER
stood by the statesmen who are study
ing the terms of peace settlement that
the French colonies and possessions
will form an important background
in IT. Few persons yet realize that
geographically they compare with
the British colonies and possessions,
although racially they do not, since
those of French blood. Yet the French
overseas possessions makes France a
very vital factor in providing for
world peace.
Ma0aRa1CAr Is frcncn protector
ate with her large native population.
TonQuin and other sections Of Indo-
China are evidences of Frances inter-
ests in the far east. The French KongO
and other sections OF Africa are the Wis
ible exhibits Of her power in the con-
tinent. where Germany hoped to es-
races. Away of in the Pacific are the
Society Islands. In the new world
are Martinique and Guadelupe, in the
Caribbean. while in the north Atlantic
there still remain the little fishing
settlements of st. Pierre and Mique-
lon. On the Caribbean coast of the
South American mainland Is French
Guinea.
Il
1t Ia In northern Africa that tho
French colonial power is strongest.
A long stretch of the southern shore
Of the Mediterranean Is French ter
rltory. whether called protectorates or
something else. and back of this Ia
the illimitable Sahara. in which the
French already have made IA reputa-
tion as desert conauerors.
Algeria and Tunis. with their large
white and Arab populations. are dis-
similar to most of the other French
possessions or protectOrates. Moroc-
co also might now be included with
Algeria and Tunis as distinctively
French. German intrigue failed to
weaken the position established for
France in the Moroccan field. 1t
e..