New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-02
After Fifty Years
By Franz II. Sinaonds

Hidden behind the foKs Of new wars
and old quarrels, there is now taking
place in Alsace-Lorraine q series OF
celebrations which under other cir.
cumstances would command worldwide
attention.. On August 4, 1870. began
that series of defeats which led. ia
Sedan and to Paris for the victorious
German armies. And on August A.
1920, in the little village Of Wissem.
bourg on the Lauter, where Abel
Douay's division was cut to pieces, af-
ter memorable resistance. by huge
German forces, the surviving veterans
of that conflict and of the Franco Prus-
sian War, of all the surrounding ham,
lets gathered, as they have assembled
every year since the battle. to do
homage to the dead.
But this year the celebration took on
totally different character. Not even
last year was it possible to escape
from the shadow of the German su-
premacy, although. in fact it had
ended. Actually the people Of this
corner Of Alsace are celebrating at one
time three great facts-the heroic but
unavailing defense of Alsacc against
the Germans in 1870, the liberation,
with the armistice on November II,
1918, and the 50th anniversary Of the
French Republic founded in the hours
Of disaster following Sedan.
The visit Of our own Knights of
Columbus to bestow a statue Of La
fayette upon the City Of Metz coin
cided with the period Of the frightful
battles about that city, which. in reality,
lost the war for France and entailed
nearly half . century Of foreign domi-
nation. But despite the local observ-
ances now, the French government and
the people of Alsace-Lorraine have
agreed to hold the main exercises on
the date of the armistice and at that
moment celebrate the fftieth ami
versary Of the founding Of the repub-
lie on the day which marked the liber,
alton of Alsace-Lorraine.
In all the disappointment and disil-
lusionmert which have followed the
end Of the war and the breakdown of
the peace settlement. there has been
an ever-growing tendency to forget
the great accomplishments Of the war
and Of the peace itself. Not the least
OF these is the liberation Of Alsace-
Lorraine. In the recent ceremony at
Wissembourg there appeared in the
procession flags which had been hid
den all through the German regime.
borne by those who had fought under
them during the Franco Prussian War.
hidden them during the German occu-
patton and brought them forth in TIL
umph with the return Of France.
In all history it is doubtful If there
was ever q more moving scene than
the return of the French troops to
Metz and to Strasbourg, anything to
compare with the Joy Of the people Of
these "lost provinces" when at last
they were redeemed. Fifty years ago.
conquered by the German, they entered
into slavery with every form of pro-
test. To Berlin they sent solid dele.
CATION Of legislators to declare that
the people Of these provinces were
French at heart. French in loyalty--de-
sired only to remain French.
A year ago, when the general elee-
ton took place in France, the de,eea-
ton from the newly reconquered prov
lnces did not contain q single renre-
sentative Of the German idea From
the ranks Of the French generals, from
the number Of the French generals
who were natives Of Alsace and rnr.