Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-21
MYRON T. HERRICK
SEES AMERICA VICTOR
Ex-Ambassador Says Doubt
ers Are Enemies or Dyspeptic.
French Spirit Indomitable

80 doubt that the United States win
be victorious against Germany is "A
symptom either of un-Americanism or
dypepsia."
This was the reply of Myron T. Her
rick. former ambassador to France. to a
question as to the result of the war. Mr..
Herrick had lunch this afternoon with
Judges Joseph Burlington John B.
Mcpherson and Victor B. Woolley, of
the United States District Court of APP
peals.> Tonight Mr.. Herrick will speak
at the Scotch-Irish dinner in the Belle
yue-Stratford, at which Judge Bufhrg-
Ton will be postmaster.
Others at the lunch We're Admiral
Washington Lee Capps, former head Of
the United States Shipping Board and
At present head of the Navy Yard Com
mission of the Navy Department, and
william Hodge. the actor.
The lunch was served in the private
chambers of the judges of the Court
OF Appeals in the Federal Building.
''To ask such a question would in
dicate that there is some doubt as to
the result" the former ambassador said.
It was commented that there are
those who do doubt.
well, then" he replied. 81 say that
they either are not true Americans or
they are troubled with their stOmachs
have dyspepsia.
There can be no doubt AS TO the
result of the war" he added. 1T is
only matter of time until Germany
will be worn out. | really cannot see
how she can hold out much longer.
cannot see personally how she can con-
tlnue to bear the burden of expense and
finance her continuance OF the war;"
Mr. Herrics could not say too much
IN praise of the spirit of the French
under the strain Of war. He said there
was nothing but cheer in the face OF
trouble among all classes OF the French.
As an example he showed a letter from
Major Philippe Bunau-Varilla. who was
one of the chief engineers of the Panama
Canal under the French regime and who
negotiated Its sale to the United States
under the Roosevelt administration.
The letter described the blowing off of
the majors right leg during the battle
Of Verdun last September. He was In
charge of the water supply Of the French
army at Verdun. He was walking along
a road with an artillery officer when a
German airplane dropped four bombs In
the road ahead of them.
n "My friend was killed instantly" the
4 ,leter reads. 81 was thrown into q
sdtch filled with dirty water"
s The majors right leg was crushed so
that it had to be amputated above ths
knee and his left foot and thigh were
wounded severely.
sM Through all the letter, however, runs
the hum of cheerfulness without any
thought of the effects upon the wounded
man. 1t ends:
But have won %
This said Mr.. Herrick, ''is the
spirit of-the French. In every word that
is uttered. whether 1t come from man
of any type in the country. is shown
the feeling that death is preferable 10
peace without French victory, | have
had many letters from my friends in
& France. Major Bunau-Varilla is only
one Of them. He, by the way, is owner
with his brother, of the Paris Matin."
Major Bunau-Varilla further tells OF
the capture of his son, Etienne, by
the Germans and the cruel treatment ac-
corded him as reprisal He was on'
) Of the first Of the French ayiators tC
succeed in downing German flyers. HI
4 was captured and sentenced to twenty
Y years Of solitary confinement. Hi;
health broke and he has been returned
y France, He Is now In Switzerland
recuperating.
The majors son-in-iaw. Count de Ran
quer, Is also prisoner in Germany.