The Alaska daily empire., 1920-03-01


 Review of Reviews when it was req sonabiy certain that Clemencea, would be the next French president \, is a new character picture of The Tiger, whom France would exalt as "rrhe Savior of the Republic" deny ing him the executive chair)
 Within the next few weeks the most conspicuous single figure IL the great drama of the World War M. Clemenceau, will lay down the burden which he took up in the awful crisis of 19i7.i The. rtFather of Mic tory" will, it now seems, exchange the responsibilities of the Quai d-Orsai for the less onerous duties of the Elysee Palace. 'l't
 The greatness of the achievement of Clemenceau will be more appre' ciated with every succeeding year as there is set forth more and more clearly the desperateness of the sit nation when he took office. While he was in the opposition in the first three years of the struggle, his voice was the one clear note urging the prosecution of the war and insisting thatvictory was possible.
 I remember well talk | had with him in 1916 while the German armies were still advancing before verdun. I recall the clarity with which he criticized the mistakes and blunders that had made Verdun almost dis aster before it became a permanent glory4-~ At --tbat time he said to me: There was an hour when l almost despaired of the future of my fellow coAntrymen, but now I do not need to tell you what they have done and are doing. Look about you. 'fftt
 Always Clemenceau saw the great ness of France as a nation and of his fellow-countrymen as human beings in the most terrible crisis in their history. When he took office the French army had been defeated al the front, and behind the front Urea son and defeatism had flourished. The will to win was crumbling. Supreme disaster was avoided only by his in domitable perseverance and by the confidence which he imparted to those about him. -..r'- -ese
 France knew at last that she had civilian chief worthy of her, and through -Clemenceau's efforts the Al lied armies presently had in Foeh militaryli Scommander who brought vietorx. In the closing days of 1917 Clemenceau restored the courage and determination ofr.Fsrance. He drove traitors from power; he eliminated incompetents; he communicated to the masses the spirit. which was his
 In the early disasters of 1918 he found 1. the necessary impulsiOn to push through his project of unity or command. In the first days Of April, when the Allied front had been brok- en, his practical ultimatum gave Foch the opportunity to prevent defeat and organize victory. When the French and British forces were broken at the sCliemin.des-Dam and Paris seemed in danger, Clemenceau dis played courage and confidence which were worth armies. While pro 'yidiny for the defense of Paris he asserted that France would continue to fight even if the capital fell HIS days and nights were divided between the soldiers at the front and the gov ernment in the rear. Every criticism. every protest. every argument Of the weak. the weary, the thoughtless, he brushed aside with his famous de- claration: make war. make war. make war" He had the sin yieness of purpose, the clarity oi vision. the ultimate moral courage to save a situation compromised al most beyond hope.
 Americas great military effort would have gone for nothing if Gle, meaceau's spirit had not ayaiied to hold the line until we could arrive. Even more than Foch. Clemenceau was the great hero of the world War. He. more than any other one man. saved France, and in saving France, SdVeu EuTopC ohN eAS "~--~ from German domination.
 In the Peace Conference, Clemen- ceaus role was, frequently misunder stood and generally misinterpreted Hessought to preserve in the presence of the enemy the unity which he hao achieved for the Allies on the battle field. An old man. familiar Tn ms owfi experience with half century of European history, he viewed witn impatience Britishs and American dreams of permanent pacification.
 He fought for France in the Peace Conference as he had striven for ms couhtry in war Hard pressed on the one side by the Imperialists, put even more compromised by the de mapds of the soldiers for geographic, al anda military considerations. Cie, menceau resisted the demands -for annexation on the left bank of the Rhine. and sought rather to obtain for his country guarantee for the future, in association with the United States and Great Britain.