The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-15

I@J theories Of world reconstruc-
ls2EaH ton, with the ushering in OF
18EJ&l a new world, It has been my
@5 fortune. through the courtesy
Of the French government, to
see the old world being restored, not
In theory, but in fact in Alsace-Lor-
raine, and particularly in Metz. I
have seen older civilization, Latin cul-
ture, reoccupying territory lost half a
century ago, returning to its monu-
ments still undestroyed. There, and
not in Paris nor in London, one must
look to see the effect Of the recent
world decision.
And in Metz even more than in any
devastated area or on any contested
battlefeld-and ! have seen most OF
both-one feels the magnitude of the
thing that was yesterday the German
empire on the march, and may be the
German republic on the march tomor-
row. In Lille. Douai, in cities recently
relinquished after four years Of oc-
cupation, signs of the German occupa-
tion. are everywhere. There is the
consciousness of a great and malign
spirit recently exercised, but after all
it's stay was brief, and French life.
French spirit, is rapidly reasserting
itself.
Metz ls Different.
But in Metz it Is different. 1t is
rather like an arm, long bound, re-
strained in plaster cast; the familiar
difficulty OF first movements, the ex-
cruciating pain, the uncertainty Of
control-all are to be seen in this Lor-
raine town. Metz is living part of
France again today, but 1t Is yet suf-
fering from long restraint. Its life
reopens. but with great difficulties.
Yet IL Is not the material side OF
the German occupation that one must
first observe. Here fifty years ago
was q little city as French as Tours
or Orleans, garrison town with a
history going back to Roman times,
! with forts dating from Vauban. In
its population there was not Ger
man and there had not been for CEN
turies. #W
In 1870, Metz was sleepy little
French town, politically and economic
ally nothing, militarily important, be-
cause like Verdun it covered the road
to the heart of France. Out of this
calm, Metz walked in 1870, for those
terrible days when Bozaine blundered
and one OF the finest armies France
ever possessed was thrown away, or
rather permitted to die of inanition;
and then the German came pouring in
by all roads, north and south, west
and east, and bringing with him his
familiar Green Map, and learned
professors land, while the soldier
came to enforce argument with the
guns their musty documents to prove
that Metz was German recently laid
Upon Paris.
Shows German Method.
And now, after half a century the
story of German occupation lies open
to the traveller. More than this, there
is disclosed clear and unmistakeable
evidence of what the German meant
to do to all of us in time, perhaps still
means to do, for Metz as nowhere else
in all his conquered lands the German
expressed his soul, or his lack Of soul !;
his materialism, his doctrine Of me-
chanical efficiency.
Poor, half-strangled, totally sup
pressed Metz is just beginning to peer
out from the darkness of fifty years Of
German domination, to supply endur-
ing evidence Of what the German
means. If you would understand him
altogether, 60 to Metz. The whole
story is there.
And this is the story as you will
find it, Remember Metz of 1870, lit
tie French town huddled about its
charming cathedral; leaning on the
banks of its Moselle canals. pictur.
esque, quaint, insanitary, impregnable
to progress or to the new doctrine of
efficiency, beautiful alike in site, in
surroundings. beautiful itself as all
French provincial towns are, but beau
tiful with the spirit and atmosphere
which came up in remote times from
the Mediterranean.
Impressive Station.
Now, by contrast the traveller who
comes to Metz finds this. First Of all.
he arrives at the railroad station
which. to the American. will suggest
st. Louis or Kansas City, the Union
Station of any of our great American
cities stretching block on block in
towering and colossal ugliness. a sta
ton adequate for the needs of city
of half a million inhabitants bestowed
upon a town of little more than fifty
thousand.
And mile on mile. in all directions,
behind the facade Of structure done
in the familiar armory architecture of
the latter period Of Grover Cleveland
OF carrier peTlou OI WiIudm MChiu-
ley, stretch endless tracks and struc-
lures. all colossal. and vast creation
surmounted by a statue of Roland,
bearing the personal features OF re-
,ent German Governor.
All for Effect.
From the station one comes into a
: broad avenue leading in all directions,
an avenue hanked by still other CO
lossal buildings, otels. post ONCE.
banks, all in the anne heavy beetle
brown. impressivily ugly style We
know as Modern German. But each
building, each broad avenue. hideous
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