The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-04

IA
n was the only one ready to
fight in the early part of
the war. This was due to her
geographical location and also to
historical circumstances. The
proximity of the threatening
German empire, and the recollec-
ton of the proceeding war of
1901 had made her prepare
her armies to defend her terri
tory against German onslaught
which was constantly expected.
Therefore, Frances part in
the common action was to gain
time while her Allies organized
and trained their armies. The
French soldier stood firm while
waiting first for the divisions of
the British Empire, then for
those of the United States of
America, and victory would not
have been won had not France
been able to hold the line while
Lord Kitchener and General
Pershing were getting ready.
AS time was working for the
Allies" the virtues which were
commonly said to be French viz
tues, i. e., 'furia francese," as
the Italians say, the dash and
gallantry, were no longer suffi-
cient; in such a war, patience,
perseverance and unity were re-
quired from the French people,
who have often been misrepre-
sented and thought incapable of
sustained effort. But since
August, 1914, facts have spoken
for themselves.
Everybody knows how Formidable
was the flood of n1en and artillery
pouring through Belgium and North
ern France after the unsuccessful at
tack of August, 1914; the mass
hurled. against the French consisted
of about 100000 men with 1000
field guns, $50 batteries Of heavy
guns and 700 enormous mortars.
This mass was stopped between Paris
and Verdun, in the region OF the
Marine, from the 9Th to the 18th of
September, by the French armies Of
General Joffre, with the help of the
seven gallant divisions of Fie1d-Mar-
shall French. Then, after the rush
to the sea- the~new drive of the
German army towards Ypres and Ca
lais, from the 2Srd of October to the
18th of November, was stopped by
the divisions of General Sir Douglas
Haig, reinforced by the French Army
Corps successfully brought by Gen
eraI Foch.
Then began the long watch from
the North Sea to Switzerland, while
Lord Kitchener was silently prepar-
ing his armies of volunteers. At
tacks were delivered on the 9th of
May, near Arras, and on the 25th OF
September, 1915, near Arras and in
Champagne by French and British
troops, in order to help Russia, who
was fighting desperately against Ger
man ons1aughts. When the Crown
Prince attempted to destroy the
French at verdun from February to
July, 1916, before British armies
could come into line, he met with q
victorious resistance, which, as Lloyd
George said, will ever be "imperish-
abIeo-Terdnn has saved not only
France, but the great cause which ID
common to- us all. Because OF the
Battle of Verdun, the drive on the
Somme during the second part oi
1915 was possible, the new armies OF
Kitchener with French troops almost
compelled the German army to gen.
eral withdrawal.
In 1917, many successes were won
In the various attacks delivered by
the French (Aisne. April 16th-Mas
9Th, Verdun-August gath, Aishe-
| october gard, Flanders, while the
| British troops we're gloriously attack
| ing in many drives between ST. Queh
| tin and Ypres. AT last, in 1918, thi
p0pTEpc Will