Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-06
FRENCH CHAMBER
STANDS FOR WAR
Solidly Backs Clemenceau
When Socialists Try to
Demand Investigation
PREMIER DEFIES STORM
Special Cable to Ereninq Public Ledger

Special Gable to Erenina Public Ledger
Copyright. 1918, by Ner York Times Co.
Paris, June s.
| Once more, by the sweeping majority
| which il gave Premier Clemenceau
against the Socialist effort to force an
| immediate discussion of military re-
| sponsibilities for the results of the latest
German drive the Chamber of Deputies
has emphatically underlined the deter
mnation of France to refuse or waste
her energies on any subject which does
not directly concern the vigorous prose-
cution of the war.
The debate. in spite of the plausible
| camouf1age under which the attack was
disguised, was another attempt by the
militant Socialists, plus handful Of
the radical Socialists. the powerful party
| of which Caillaux was for so many years
the supreme chief, and Malvy, a proni-
| nent member to assert the rights of the
politicians to interfere in the vital work
| of the war. The chamber, by a vote OF
377 against 10, showed, with no un-
! certain voice, that 1t was determined to
have no more of these miserable political
intrigues. and the overwhelming mass of
F'renchmen whole-heartedly support this
| view.
| There were four distinct demands for
| interpretations, all handed in by Social
ist members All tended to the same
object-to extract from the Government
| detailed information as to the causes OF
| the failure Of the Allied troops to main
tain their line against the German drive
last week
The Socialists were apparently tndif-
| ferent as to whether the information
was given publicly or in secret session.
CIemencesu- -DeAes Socialists
Their hatred of Clemenceau.' Gus
ltave Terve remarks to his Voctoire this
morning. takes precedence even of the
safety Of France" and the debate in the
Chamber certainly gave some justifica-
ton for this judgment.
The house was crowded and in the
diplomatic gallery were several OF the
i Allied ambassadors.
i Clemenceau rose to his feet at the
opening of the session to make formal
statement Of the Governments attitude
The Tiger" despite his seventy-seven
years. was in his best nghtins FORM
and evidently prepared to force from
the house the decision which. he was
fully aware the country expected from
: him, He announced firmly that the
Government would not accept the de-
mand OF the Socialists for a debate
: either IL. d public or secret sitting.
From the beginning Of the speech II
was evident that the Socialists were de-
, termined to raise trouble, and their
5 furious Interruptions punctuated every
: passage of the Premiers remarks. Wher
! Clemenceau stated fatty that informa-
ton gathered in secret sessions would
| be used by certain coterie for pur-
9 poses of political warfare later, the So
! cialist storm rose to a climax. Yells
I and insults were hurled at the Premier's
head.
e you?' queried Clemenceau in naive sur.
prise Il didn't mention anybody's
J. name"
He was in the act of continuing wher
4 fresh howls came from the Socialist
camp, and at least one shout of Don't
= begin again" In the face of the in
| terruptions the Premier, with a gesture
of tired contempt. quietly left the
! tribune and resumed his seat amid the
: : sudden silence of the surprised house.
Scores Political sauabbles
Four would-be interpellators then be.
:, gan in turn to state the grounds of their
u demands. Encouraged by the mildei
c tone of one of them Clemenceau agair
rose to speak and for an hour he held
y the house while he showed the futility al
= squabbles. He pointed out that he hat
&C placed the army commission in full pos
session of the facts as he knew them
and that the customary parliamentary
- investigation for the purpose of fixint
- responsibilities and Furnishing com
, manders deserving such treatment, 1
"a such there were, was already under way
" AS to the situation, the Premier put tn
- facts in a nutshell.
" The collapse of Russia" he said, ZEN
q abled the enemy to set free an army o
- a million men to add to his forces o.
II our front Anybody can understand tha
under such enormous weight our lin
al must give way at some points Some o
ID our men have fought one against fv'
Iy without sleeping for three or four days
4 The losses of our allies, the British, l
IN the heroic struggle have been more tina
Se we could have believed possible.
* The situation has become dangerou
~ for our armies. but in all this | Sc
10 nothing to diminish our confidence !
I'll our troops As to the Government,
ed will continue to make war stubborn
ca and obstinately We win never capitt
late II you are not satisfied with or
work, turn us out. 1t is for you I
20 decide.
"a The only thing that matters is fni
- success. Our electives are lessening
~. ~ number. but so are those of German
~ while the Americans are coming
.. larger and larger numbers to take pa
.rs in the final victory"
n, The veteran minister concluded vii
=, a vibrant appeal to the house to lea
- IL to the living to crown the magnificel
- labors of the dead.
"a After clemencesu had finished all W;
~ over but the shouting, The Old Ms
Eloquent. backed by his splendid wol
for France. had once more conquers
~ all except the snarling opposition
- Socialists and his proposal to adjoul
a sine die the asked-for discussion W;
a. carried by . majority Of ?s7.