The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18

tic appearance, 1t was still a kindly
and vigorous old man, with hardly a
trace of the burden of years, who well
coined the invading American.
II knew America once, l knew 1t
we'll" he said; then with a touch Of
mock sadness" but that was long ago,
too long ago, For you see am an
old man. Then for q moment he Cos
siped about the New York which he
had known, the New York of Dana and
Greeley. whom he had visited in the
days between the end Of the Civil war
and the other coming of the German
Of tho days when he was in exile, and
instructor Of French. ! believe, in a
girls school In a Connecticut suburb.
but you come to talk about the war
about France" he said, after a mo-
ment,
well, I am not going to tell you what
France Is doing. | am not going to
for. yourself, you must see it for your
self, you must feel 1t for yourself
Then, after a moment, he went on
with quickening tone. -,
There have been times In the past
and ~he waved his hands toward the
busy street beyond the lattice window,
there have been times when | have
d~espaired for my country, when have
been afraid of the future for my coun-
trymen, but now. now look at them
look at France"
Then he repeated details of the Yer
dun episode, of the tragic opening day
about Douaumont which all Paris was
then repeating, but l shall not repeat
here.
We need a man we need a general
we need a man." he said, with suller
intensity.
And Jottre?" | asked, recalling the
name of the man who then still com
manded, but whose sun was then sink
ing rapidly,
sharply; nothing, but ne is not tn
man, he is not the man"
And Fochg' l inquired, naming m!
own hero.
But Foch did not arrest his atten
what of petain. then" 1 inquired
naming the man who was just cominl
to world notice as the defender of Yer
dun and who was TO succeed TO IN
rank and power of Joffre, before Gle
menceau himself became premier,
Perhaps | do not know him." he re
piled, but we must have q mani
What of Kitchener" l queried, nam
ing the man who then commanded tn
British armies and was at the mon1en
In Raris, The question reused Clemen
ceau. All OF a sudden his whole dc
meanor changed. he leaned over. tn
empiacement for all the world like
big gun In action,
Kitchener he said with extren
elaboration, but in II tone OF unmis
taxable ice-"Kitchener Is a symbol"
; "a symbol l asked, a little puxSle'
Eyes, a symbol, A symbol of a ma
about whom some people sun belieN
. what was never true"
! Here al last was the tiger" the Clt
| menceau Of the legend. This was u
man, who a few months before ha
said of Viviani, then premier, Il NJ
4 spoken, he speaks, he will speak, al
! Viviani had fallen together with a who
q cabinet Of eloquence. ~
a The, conversation drifted to politics
q "What of the opposition? I asked.
q THE opposition in the chamber"
a explained. a.
v for a moment, and then said with caln
but I am the opposition, 1t v!
the famous phrase Of Louis Nl
u "L'etat, c'est, Moi but II was repea
ed without the smallest note Of person
a vainglory: II was not a boast; 1t was
simple statement Of fact,
q Il am the opposition" he repeate
"a and II Is an opposition TO the condu
~ Of the war, to the mistakes, II is.
q opposition which wants things lone be
a ter, that is all"
II But those who want peace l aske
lie Who are they" no auerled.
,e What would happen, then" askt
trying a flank movement, What wot
al peace now, peace without Alsace-Lc
raine-a German peace2"
T. He reflected for a moment and tn
,d said, with a softness Of voice which W
NJ hardly deceptive.
~ III anyone should , advocate pea
- now, a German peace, | think he Wot
40 be shot-hut 1t would be done deecnI
s-oh, very d%ecently," The words W.
In my mind now, when Bolo pasl
us prosecuted by the C~lemenceau Cover
G. ment, has faced II firing squad,
"a seeking a German peace,
rrN And C%atllaux,' asked, naming I
name that then, rs always, has been I
eS nightmare IN the minds OF those W
M love France and hope to see her vicI
he rious and herself, the man of VIII,
Clemonceau had said, He thinks hi
self Napoleon
No" he said, with n calm sm.
r. II do not fear him
win he come back" | asked.
~ Il do not think So he respond
!. when Caillaux was Jailed to await
az Eprison that trial for treason VIII
n Clemenoeau has directed and will for
re The talk drifted to the Bulgarian d
'e.. aster,, OF the, previous autumn and
ne macy in the Balkans.
~ Bulgaria was a case of money"
said, thoughtfully, "a case OF nor
Ich and | think, II l had been in power
in should have bought
lut And Greece
lily But he would not talk Of Greece,
had been for years one Of the er
AS friends Of the Hellenic Kingdom and