Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-10-26
CHAPTER X.
The Beginning Of the End.

Ihe Beginning OF the End.
Not satisfied with continuing his full
support to the man he had picked out
from the very fint months of the war,
NJ. Clemenceau continues his effort to
increase this mans authority. On June
20 he decides that the right given at
Beauvais to the allied commanders in
chief to appeal to their governments
shall be abolished as far as the French
armies are concerned and that their
commander chief shall be purely and
simply placed under the orders of Cen
eral Foch.
On June 80. complying with desire
frequently and forcibly expressed bv
the latter. he removes the chief of staff
of the French armies and appoints
General Buat to this post In August,
NJ. Cleinenceau suggests to the cabinet
the elevation of the commander r in chief
to the dignity of marshal of France
Thus, from the first day to the last.
a single thought had dominated the ac-
tons of the French government. From
the first day to the last, France and
her prime minister had willed the unity
CT command realized in the person Of
the great soldier whose unquestioned
genius ensured it's acceptance. History
VIII tell how great the part played in
cur common victory by this decision to
which all our allies adhered.
Careful of Men ~
l should be woefully remiss if I did
not add one more word. / have spoken
of French genius. But France is also
great of heart. This it was that made
our brotherhood of arms. Forty-three
per cent of all the men of France were
mobilized. Thus our military command
ers governed half of our male popula-
ton. They governed them with tender
care. They were sparing of their sol
diers' lives. They took full advantage
OF the increasing potentialities of mod
ern engines of war. At Charleroi and
the Marne we lost 541 per cent of the
forces engaged. during the first six
months of 1915, $50 per cent. during
the second six months, 1CS per cent
during the first six months Of 1915.
1.47 per cent, and during the last six
months of the same year. 12S per cent.
Our losses fell in 1917 to 46 per cent
of the forces engaged and in 1918 in
our final effort they did not exceed 10
per cent. a splendid showing. indeed.
But this is not all. France, more than
any other country. despite the demands
firm and just policy, maintained high
of her fighting men in the
divisions in line-66 per cent in 1914
and "a per cent in 1918
France also had the secret of inspir-
ing mutual affection between her Off
GERS and men. France understoo,i-
and here again in justice must write
the name of Marshal Petain-that a
democracy in arms fighting a five-year
war is undeserving Of the rigid disci-
pline that can be imposed upon a pro-
fessional army fighting five-months'
war. France understood the inestima-
BILE value of mutual sacrifice whereby
officers and men are welded together;
Of that subtle bond which makes of
discipline d personal and a living thing.
or instinctively accepted. out
Of gratitude or admiration or love--a
bond the more binding because unforced
and forged in the heart of the soldier"
The French army-thanks to The spir-
tual union of men and officers; thanks
also to her admirable non-coms, sprung
from the ranks of the nation, the epic
artisans of the victorious effort planned
1y their leaders-has no need like the
German army of being picked over in
order to find shock troops. The French
lrmy remained itself all through the
war, adapting itself to successive
changes, each of which was a fresh test !
If its endurance
Weak Against Strong.
Just as in 1914. it had been almost |
he sole bulwark Of civilization with its
2 army corps, it's 26 reserve divisions,
fa ~ 1iviziOna Of rnvolrv onoiru< xhn |
onslaught of an empire of prey with a |
nan power Of IA million men, SO to
he very end. BY the side Of it's great al
les. the French army did what 1t had |
0 do. What praise could be higher?
'uisqu'll fallait aller, on trait This
aying of our French peasant-whom
like 80 many others, had the honor Of
,ading into action-magnificently sums
p our ideal Of war. With 1t will end
his brief sketch of what France In
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