PARIS IN WAR TIME

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 49, 26 February 1916, Page 13

PARIS IN WAR TIME

WHAT DOES GERMANY MEAN ? OMINOUS SIGNS OF FAIiUHS. . (Special to ''Star.") PARIS, December 20. Is Germany preparing an attack on the French iront? Some scepticism o-i tljis point is more than warranted. Tlij Press, subsidised by Germany in neutral countries, is making such an ostentatious clamour about "the movement of German troops'' behind the Western front, tbe "interruption of railway traffic," etc., that, suspicion i≤ arousedIf Germany really meant to begin another "drive" on Paris, or Calais she would not set all her Press agents to work, as shj has done, to announce tho attack 'beforehand.. It is far more likely that all this beating of drums-is intended to impress the Germans. The people in Germany sec that the Allies, so far from being crushed, are stronger and more determined than ever, that supplies in Germany are steadily decreasing and prices steadily increasing, and that a "German peace" is impossible of realisation. Already the edifice is cracking. The mark has lost 19 per cent of its value in New York, and 25 per cent iv Amsterdam. In a, short time a "remnant sale" of German war-paper will be announced. A DISASTROUS EXPLOSION. Havre was a town of mourning yesterday, -when the funerals of the vic,tiiEe ; of the catastrophe at the Belgian Government's munitions factory at.Graville, St. Honorine, took place amid general manifestation- of sorrow,.. The official inquiry into the disaster las not yet closed, and the death roll has not yet been definitely established, but it is believed that the number of-victims does not exceed 150. Two "Hundred and fifty, tons of powder were blown up, and the explosion, caused an excavation 35 metres deep.*' The cause of the disaster is also unknown. The explosives.-which, have been, blown up_ arrived, from America a few weeks ago in cases, the examination of winch- it is stated', hail not ..been sufficiently complete. The annexe, is a heap of ruins.. The explosion was plainly felt at Trouville and , places at a considerable distance, while' it gave the impression of kn- earthquake to-the inhabitants of Havre. .A person who iwas in.his dressing-room ;When the explosion took place, was lifted into the air and carried into an adjoining room. The explosion caused serious damage at Havre. Buildings were unroofed, windows blown 'out, and walls, collapsed. The effect was eiinilar to that of a bombardment. •■".•;:■- . ; ,

" PAPA " JOFFRE'S PROMOTION. The appointment.of, General Joffre to the supreme command has created tremendous satisfaction, in. Erarice. Undoubtedly the most popular Frenchman of the day. 'Tapa ,1, Joffre,, as he ■i= a,(Tectiqna.tely called,. carries the public confidence;.'.. %Tot only as livering-angel, but ss the one man capable, by his military genius, ; o£ bringing Germany to her knees,-he is adored. Ifot that._General-:JqjEEre. clajms. to achieve aiK'ithit'"B<T!f»le-ha'ndcd,- for -ihe 01-soaie-3,000,000 isoldiers is.beyond the power even of a .Ko,.in.his greatners; Joffre has riot forgotten' to pay high tribute,, not. only to the Allied generals^.but,to those- who have so long worked in unison with .him.; .KcyertheIcss, the movements of those. niultitude3 pi', meri, -whose -"lines extend acrdse ' France, over the Gallipoli Peninsula, and from' Salonika-to the' Varilar;,are;,nbw to depend entirely upon the'will ;of : tl}e most- venerated' general- of ; all : times, "Father' Joffre. z^ , •"■ ; 10EMOBIAL TBESS. / 'J 'The planting" of symbolical' trees', which has 'been popular, in Trance since early, times, is likely, to' become, general throughout' the countiy this.year." ..Tfts first ceremony .of this kind since the present war., was recently held on the grounds k of. a. hospital in .the Hue Oudi.net,, where, in. the presence- df a, nu.mber pi.-, convalescent, • Sisters 6£ ..Charity-, and -distinguished Cardinal Amette.planted a "Tree of.Kevenge." At. the.same .time, he ■•invitei those present :to. return-• for the ' day when,th'e. "Tree, of Victory." must- s also ~ 4e; plaiit.ed. ;there.-. During the-. jT.eneh. Revqlution,.-it; is said; sixty, thousand-' '/Liberty . Trees''vwer-e planted.throughout-France,- .- > -,■'■■'■'

SHIRKER .TURNS PATRIOT. v'iihe-:; Troyea,:OQ.urtrmartial has .just unanimously - ; acquitted - a young ; Frenchman .named. Henri:" Girard,. who-* though. technically, a. deserter, succeeded; -after Jieroic , efforts, - in,, escaping , ' from -Luxembourg; ■' and" rejoining his >. '•regiment.' Girard-had shirked his .military : service in! time' of peace, and , wa3'in Luxembourg when war. broke out. \He'a£ once visited ■the' French Hegatiori", 1 and ;was informed withm what period he must present Kirn-, eelf for-serviced Without delay"-he set France, but Wvas"' stopped by xohtier guards, and had to return to Luxembourg. Starting again, '■ he 'was captured -by-a Uhlan 'patrol, but he escaped, andlay hidden in a farm for a fortnight.'.'At the end pf this period, Girard..was captured -by: the German secret police, and interned at. Holzm'-nder camp. Later, he broke ,out. of camp .with two friends, but. air "three were capture'!, and Girard" was" sent 1o the Hasenourg fortress in Saxony. - Nothing -daunted, lie-: contrived. to escape from this stronghold; and, lying hidden, iv a truck on .a eupply train, actually reached France unde,tected, but only in the zone; occupied by .theGerlnans. Amid a thousand-dan-gers, and. in constant peril of. being taken and shot as a spy, Girard \yorked his way on foot, crossed .;a canal, where he; saved two persons from drowning,. and ultUnately crossed- the Dutch frontier. From Holland .-w™-' 1 was sent to Boulogne under a «!»«"£ tion order, where \he ,i.mmed:atel}. re ported to his regiment.. - : THE NBVT-CBPSAIJBS. ' The new French; helmet,. which eep tainly is not a thing of beauty,,reminds one nevertheleas of the pictures of the medieval helmets worn by the Crusaders. This helmet, which is made of bulletproof chrome steel, weighs seven kilogrammes, or nearly fifteen. pounds. The chest protector of the same_ material ■weighs 43 kilogrammes, or about nine pounds, and the apron or stomach shield weighs 25 kilogrammes, or a little over five'pounds. Naturally, a man dressed like that cannot march very fast or far, but for trench, warfare toe is : wellequipped, especially for the exposed observation post between the trench lines and for patrol where "there ft r'.vjor frnm , . ' ';...;