South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-08


In several previous articles have
aspects and problems Of the forthcoming Peace Con-
gress Versailles great variety OF questions 10
decided. territorial. financial and political. since
very large portion Of Europe Is TO be remade has al
ready served to confuse the mass OF observers anu
this confusion lessened by the addition
Of the supreme puzzle which is the League Of Ma
In the present article however I intend to deal.
with problems which be submitted to the
decision OF the congress- but 10 the equally important
question Of the various European peoples,
still against Germany, it affects and
viii beraaftr seect our influence AZ Versailles Such
observations L here make based upon the COM
OF my French and English friends and the read
of the various foreign journals which to this
country.
In the beginning it must be that there
gular unanmity abroad in recognizing the plain fact
that without America Germany could not have been
beaten. The war has ended in 1918 because We sup
piled Foch with the necessary reserve available and
prospective, push this great offensive. In the spring
Germans great initial successes, but the cost
great that their man power gave out at the
precise when there needed great re-
enforce victory on July is the rst American
divisions entering the battle Foch the advantage
Of numbers at the decisive point Thereafter he was
always able count perfectly regular new con-
trbutOn month by month
ADED IN OTHER
WAYS THAN MEN.
Only less decisive was our aid in material directions
money supplies; while. small naval
contribution was measured by comparison with tibet
OF Britain. a precious aid at the moment when
the submarine peril was at its height
Europe then. and particularly our British and
which spread the whole population, and is no
genuine and intense than among the poor
classes, whose immediate suferings were greatest
and whose gain through peace IS swtest In arrVins
foundation the influence which have
today Europe and the basis Of the appeal our voice
viii have in conference
along gratitude. which would express it
self in A prompt compliance with any request of ours
n interest made for the safeguarding
OF any policy of ours. there is an unmstakaoe appre-
hension of the suspicion that great influence
things OF little real value to
us and carrying future menace TO our associates.
example. It is customary in America to say that
make war, not upon the German people, but upon
have always in certain official quar-
ters a distinction between the masses Of
the people and their rulers. But no such dis
the minds OF the French people and
il has practically disappeared from British minds.
FRENCHMEN BLAME PEOPLE.
NOT OFFICIAL CASTE
The Frenchman in his ruined villages,
his helds his murdered and dishonored WON
en- an of the exclusive spirit OF the Prussian
Of the official caste. What has been done is to his
mind, a peculiarly and characteristic German thing.
lie reasons without exception, that the excuses AMI
crimes which have been committed his territory
and against his brethren lasting
sion what the German is, not the high born
German not the prince the baron, but the German
of this view the Frenchman fortihes
the evidence Of present experiences with those of the
past. for the German has come into France many
the days OF Caesar, and the Latin descrip-
lions OF German methods are almost identical
For the Frenchman therefore. there the realiza
ton what the German is, what he has always been,
emphasized by of years. but illus
trated by all Germany history. And in the French
mans mind the German will not change easily prob
ably In event, new form OF government
viii transform millions OF men who yesterday, and
COR years past conducted themselves in the spirit of
Darbarsm French soil
When peace France will still find her
self open frontier toward the Germans. 1t will
he better frontier, easier to defend including 1900
900 people of Asace-orrane VINO desire 10 De french
bat it Will be frontier marching with the German