Evening star., 1945-07-22

f~o w VI ~ fIoLo'
1t would be catastrophe for
France, if he ever came to play a
prominent part in this country
Clemenceau's summary was harsh
but accurate.
"Joffre, Foch Criticized Him"
We know of the disappointment
felt by Marshal Joffre, who had
pushed Petain to the top of the
ladder, when at Verdun he was
obliged to give Petain definite
orders not to abandon the right
bank of the Meuse.
Napoleon used to say, Character
is more valuable In a general than
brains" Joffre voiced the opinion
of every one when he told Raymond
Poincare. when the latter was Pres
ident of France, "Petain lacks char
acter." Foch is credited with the
remark, When there's nothing to
do, that is the job for Petain."
Gen. Charles Mangin, one of the
most dashing leaders in the war of
1914-1918, told Michel Clemenceau
(''the Tigers" SOM on the day of
our entry into Mayence, I'VE have
won the war in spite of Petain!"
Gorges Mandel told me at the
prison of Portalet that during the
last war, when Poincare presented
-Petain with his marshal's baton in
the presence of Marshal Foch and
the Allied commander in chief.
Weygand, who was Foch's chief Of
staff, remarked, "If you only knew
how we had to kick him in the
backside to get him as far as thisl'
Misled the Nation.
Shotly after the semi Fascist re-
volt of February 6, 1884, Petain
became Minister of War The coun-
try looked on him as the guardian
of French security. Let us see how
he misled the nation.
He told the French Senate that
the Ardennes sector lis in no dan
GER; he told the Chamber of Dep
uties that the northern extension of
the Maginot Line would permit the
people of the north of France to
live in peace; he opposed extend
ing compulsory military service to
two years to keep the French Army
up to straightforward privately
land few months later in writing)
he affirmed the contrary.
1t becomes clearer when one re-
calls that as far back as 1895,
Gustave Herve (French Socialist
editor suggested "a national rally
around the great name of this dis
'tinguished soldier" He produced a
pamphlet entitled "Petain is the
Man for U.s." which was widely
circulated, especially in certain
Catholic circles. ("Cradle of Extreme
French Conservatism. "-Ed)
Terrorist Link Alleged.
One cannot think that this was
done without Petain's knowledge.
One finds in it phrases which Petain
himself used when he became die
tator. This publication stated that
the power of the head of the
State should be limited only by the
necessity of consultation with the
appropriate sections of his council
of state"
In its pages, Petain already was
described as the "heaven-sent man. :"
Indeed, afterward a Vichy minister
was to argue that the presence of
the marshal in the government
constituted a fresh proof of Gods
existence. Medals of Petain were at
that time distributed throughout
the country. Who paid?
1t may be well to remember that
Petain was in touch, through Maj.
Loustalau-Lacau, with the Cagoule,
a political secert, society of hooded
men, using murder and other weap-
ons of terror to achieve its aims
which was supplied with arms and
money by the Fascist government
of Italy. tThe Cagoulards, more ac-
lively political but similar to the
Ka Klux Klan and as violently
prejudiced and partisan, were also
of the extreme right.-Ed.)
Opposed Russian Alliance.
In 1896, Petain came forward in
open opposition to any suggestion of
an alliance with Russia which the
military situation so evidently
required
In talks with Admiral Darlan and
M Anatole de Monzie F'rench