The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-11

the man who had taken the grave
step of ordering the armies of France
to invade a neighbour territory would
have taken the trouble to ascertain
the elementary facts of his case
Part of this gigantic sum vert for
the armies of occupation, part for
Preparations. But it all came out Of
German assets. VIII the next three
and half years bring anything ap-
proximating that figure to the allied
Golfers?
Resistance Surprising
1t is a safe statement to make that
no one in charge of the French move
nents anticipated a resistance an.
preaching In its stubbornness that
which they have encountered. The
friendly press, both in France and
here, foretold the speedy collapse Of
German opposition. All the French
PLANS were based on that assumption.
An Englishman who was there when
the occupation began asked French
officer how long he thought 1t would
take. The answer is indicative of the
spirit in which the venture started.
"Optimists think it win take a fort
night" he said. "Pessimists think it
may take three weeks"
Reference back to the January tele-
grams ftom Paris and Dusseldorf will
show that this officer accurately ex-
pressed the general sentiment of
these who were responsible for the
Ruhr invasion. Soldiers estimate
chances of resistance in terms of ma
terial and trained men, and states
men too often build their hopes on
the same shallow foundations. They
never allow for the indonitable re.
serves of the human heart which do
not figure in Army lists or in states
mems ANIMALS.
The Ruhr tragedy Is not the FIRST,
nor will it the the last. to be initiated
by facile memoranda framed by gen
eraY STATS and civilian functionaries
drawing inspiration from pigeon holes.
Whatever becomes of this episode
1t is already clear that the estimates
of military men, Of transport officials,
OF intelligence departments and of
presiding ministers have been hope
lessly falsifed. Many more soldiers
have been sent into the Ruhr than
had been thought necessary; much
less coal has come out Of the Ruhr
than had been confidently expected.
Many Frenchmen in Ruhr
There are already as many French
men in the Ruhr as Napoleon com
manded at Waterloo. AS to the coal
they have succeeded in sending across
the frontier in six months, it is about
equal to a months delivery by the
Germans during the period of de
fault" which provoked the invasion.
Desperate efforts have been made at
great cost to increase the yield so as
to satisfy French and foreign opinion
that resistance Is gradually breaking
down. Rubbish is shoveled into rail
way cars in order anyhow to swell
the quota. Coal Is seized anywhere.
even in the streets. And General
Trocquer, bluff and genial Breton,
who is in charge of transport arrange
ments, breezily challenges all critics
to look at the mounting pyramids
of his dust-cart collection and rejoice
with him in the triumph Of French
| organization under his control. Alas.
the Celtic fire of Monsieur TroOquer,
even when fed by the sweepings of
the Ruhr, cannot keep going the
| blast furnaces Of Lorraine. So there
is much disappointment and discon-
tent amongst the forgemasters OF
France.
! All the same, there must he a limit
| to human endurance. Either France
or Germany must give way in the
end. Which will 1t be, and when
will It come and how? In answer
ing these questions. one must begin
by remembering that for France the
honor of her flag is involved in sue
cess. Failure would irretrievably
damage her prestige. Every French
man knows that. That is why states
men who disapprove invasion sup
port the government in all their pro
posals for bringing 1t to successful
end. And here France has legitimate
complaint against her allies. 1t is
all very we'll for Italy now to coun.
sci wisdom. Signor Mussolini was