Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-10

PARIS. February Thy the Assoc
ciated Press).-WhiIe I have said that
the war has been won, it would per-
haps be more accurate to say that
there is a 'lull in the storm" said
Georges Clemenceau, the French pre-
mier in the course of an interview
with the Associated Press today. AT
least" he added, "it is as well to face
squarely all tho possibilities"
Although Germany had been beaten
militarily and had been largely dis
armed, there still remained. the pre-
mier pointed out. "a chaotic but fruit
full Russia. from which great help may
be drawn by the Teutons." There
would be danger, he thought, of
'reopening of the military debate, IL 1t
were not for the assurance President
Wilson had voiced recently that
whenever France or any other free
people was menaced the whole world
would be ready to vindicate its lib
erty.
In the society of nations, said the
premier, each nation must be willing
10 renounce its traditional aloofness
and be willing to employ the national
strength outside its own country, both
IN war and in peace.
Warm Praise for Americans.
Premier Clemenceau warmly praised
the help the American troops had
given in winning the war for democ
facy and expressed disbelief that there
was man in the American army of
occupation who regretted that he had
fought on the side of freedom" be-
cause he had found more creature
comforts in Germany than in France.
Il lived in the United States in my
young and formative days" said Pre-
mler Clemenceau, in beginning. Per
maps, therefore. I may be INDUCED TO
say few words to our allies on the
other side of the Atlantic-not by
way of advice or propaganda, but
frankly. as friend to friend.
The friendship between our peo-
pies which has subsisted for a CEN
thing. The like of it has never ex-
listed for the same length of time
between any other two peoples. This
cordiaiity. cemented by our contact
during the war. must endure in closer
measure hereafter. To this end our
minds must meet.
The entrance of America into the
great war was full of dramatic in
terest. The application of nation
wide conscription without the slight
est distur bance. the universal self
denial TO supply us with food and
all our requirements. the unity of
purpose and the amazing energy OF
100000 of people of so varying
and complex character challenged
our admiration and gratitude in such
fashion as no one but ourselves can
know.
And the way the American SOL
diers fought, Nothing could have
been finer, Inspired by the hottest
ideals-I may say transfgured-they
entered upon their task with all the
all the fervor, all the
sg,risSSs Pey did Of w the
might have died-she would not have
But do not mistake me.
I do not mean to minimize the I'M
portance of the American military
aid, nor of the American Red Cross.
nor the Salvation Army. nor any of
has been in all the worlds history so
perfect q coordination of the holy
purpose of the righteous minded in
of the earth.
And now the war Is won. The
world Is made safe for democracy. for
life. liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness, as Jefferson said in the Amer
icon Declaration Of Independence.
And the future is before US. What
has IL in store?
Scorns Story of Yank Regret.
IT am told that some of these gal
liant American soldiers. who lived in
trenches, slept IN dugouts and. bur-
rowed in the mud in devastated and
war-torn France, when they crossed
the Rhine and in an undevastated
land found clean beds and baths,
rather regret that they fought on
the side Of freedom and would rather
have fought on the side of the muir
dering Germans. L do not believe IL.
I am sure there is no American SOL
der who does not recognise that
France, the battlefield of the war.
could not give him the comforts that
Germany. undevastated. was able to.
/ do not and will not believe SO
meanly of single one of the brill
liant warriors who came from the
states to our aid in the great struggle
for civilization against savagery. 1t
is incredible. 1t is the tragedy of
the war that devastated France could
not give them the comforts that un-
broken Germany could.
81 believe there is soma criticism