Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01

was probably at its helgnJ. AS tnlS
was his first visit to Chaumont,, the
people turned out en- masse, crowded
into the plaza and gave him q rousing
welcome. His reception within the
Hotel de Vile by the officials, civil and
military, was marked by eloquent
speeches. In his remarks M. Clemen-
ceau gave the people every encourage
ment, making special reference TO the
increasing forces the Americans were
sending over.
AS we were leaving the widowed
mother of q missing soldier, her only
son, came up in great distress and told
M. Clemenceau OF her sorrow. He spoke
tenderly of her patriotic sacrifice, put
his arm gently around her and kissed
her cheeks, mingling his tears with
hers. The pathos Of this touched every
heart.
Chatted With ofiCerS.
AS Gen. Foch and the others were
not arriving until later, M. Clemenceau
and I. driving together, accompanied
by Gems. Wirbel and Ragueneau in q
separate automobile, went to the head
quarters Of the SD Division, Maj.
Gen. Glenn commanding, which was
billeted- at Montigny, not far from
Chaumont We saw a battalion at Essey
quarters of Brig. Gen. Darrah.
During the inspection M. Clemenceau
found several men in ranks OF foreign
birth and from various countries, which
interested him very much. He after
ward chatted with the officers and
made q short speech to them and the
inhabitants of the village, who had
gathered around him.
It was one of those beautiful days
In fV11TarQCeinn
we motored along through the rolling
country rising toward the foothills OF
the Vosges we fell to discussing the
probable situation of the various allied
countries and their relative standing
after the war. NJ. Clemenceau went to
some length in his conjectures.
"Great Britain is finished and in my
opinion she has seen the zenith Of her
glory" he said.
What makes you think 50, Mr..
Prime Minister" asked
leFirst OF all" he replied, "the i'm
mense drain of the war will make 1t
impossible for her to retain commercial
supremacy, and, second, the experience
of her colonial troops in this war win
make their people more independent
and she win lose her control over
them
Unlimited Possibilities.
I could not agree with M. Clemen-
ceaus view, and said: ~Mr. Prime Min
lister, / think you are mistaken about
the British, and believe we shall see
them fully recover from the effects OF
Continuing. I asked: what about
Frances future?"
"Ahl She viii once more, be the
dominant power in Europe" ne re-
piled.
"But you do not mention Germany"
reminded him.
He replied: THE Germans are q
great people, but Germany will not re-,
gain her prestige and her influence for
generations" He casually spoke OF the
others, but did not include any in the
class with the three mentioned. re-
member one expression he used re-
garding the United States.
"AhI General" he said, yours Is
wonderful country, with unlimited pos
sibilities."
His view of the future of France was
and Is without doubt the dominant one
among Frenchmen, especially those OF
the educated classes.
There is no denying that the French
people as whole regard themselves
as q superior people in many respects,
and they lose no opportunity 20 extol
the achievements of their great men.
The thought naturally ran through my
mind that this attitude of dominance
on the part of the French might in
some measure account for their inclina-
ton to keep the American Army in a
subordinate role. In any event, they
apparently had not given up the idea
Of regarding US as only an associated
power that had come into the war late,
TO be used as they might dictate.
Appeared TO Be Surprised.
With further reference to our con-
versation, M. Clemenceau and dis
cussed the immediate military outlook,
and gave him my views regarding the
probable situation OF the German
/ armies in the Marine salient and pointed
out the chance we had for a successful
counter-attack on It's western face.
spoke especially of the strategical effect
Of q successful blow Just south of SOis-
sons and the material results 1t would
have, to say nothing Of It's stimulating
effect on allied morale.
/ suggested that we had at least six
divisions, and possibly eight, that could
be used in such an offensive. The idea
| that, - could strengthen the French
! with N attacking force Of fresh troops
equal TO 16 allied divisions seemed to
surprise him, and as the idea made an
appeal to his common sense he said he
would cali Foch's attention to 1t at
once
Later in the day I reminded Gen.
Foch Of the suggestion had made to
him at Sarcus regarding q counterfeit
fensiye. He had given instructions he
said, TO have q study made, although
there was no intimation when, where or
whether it would be undertaken. That
part Of the German position to which
have referred offered every advantage
for the successful outcome of such q
move.
Once the line there was pierced the
German rear would be threatened and
their position within the salient would
be untenable. The allies could not have
asked better chance than the Ger
mans gave them. We shall see later
how the allies and ourselves took adj
vantage Of it.
Shortly after our return to Chau.
mont Gems. Foch and Weygand arrived
and after lunch we all went into con.
ference. This meeting was arranged
for Sunday. to give us plenty OF time
70 80 over the whole question Of troop
requirements. Its particular purpos,
! was to discuss in detail the rate Of
shipments that would be necessary tC
give the Allies unqueStioned superiority
! the following year.
80 Divisions Goal.
The continuation Of shipments up *
100 divisions, as already recommended
, by the prime ministers, Lloyd George
Clemenceau and Orlando, formed thu
basis Of French argument. M. Tardieui
estimate Of the American problem wal
accurate, and, doubling the possibilit!
Of cur being able to reach the greatel
program, he favored reducing the imIne
Foch we're Tor the larger program.