FRENCH MAN POWER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 56, 29 November 1917, Page 5

FRENCH MAN POWER

"BLOOD SHED IN TORRENTS

SINCE 1914"

THE DUTY OF FRANCE

■ In the course of a Ministerial statement in tbe Chamber of Deputies recently, M. Painleve said:— "To gather together nil the material and moral forces of the nation for the supreme phase of the war is the duty to which the Government will give all its attention. The longer the war is drawn out the more will it exact from everyone a more complete abnegation and a greater spirit of sacrifice Tno nearer we draw to the end the more will the moral resistance, of the nation become the element essential to victory. No enemy manoeuvre, no individual •weakness, can turn France from her unshakable determination. If France pursues this war it is neither for conquest nor vengeance. It is to defend her own liberty, her independence, and at the same time tho liberty and independence of the world. When Franco was Beaten. "Her claims are those of right; they are even independent of the issue of battles. Sho proclaimed thorn solemnly in 1871, when sho was beaten. She proclaims them to-day when she is making the aggressor feel the weight of her arms. The disannexation of Al-sace-Lorraine, reparation for the damago and ruin wrought bv the enemy, and a pence which shall not he a peace of constraint or violence, containing in itself the germ of future ■wars, but a just ponce, in whicli no people, whether strong or weak, shall be oppressed, a peaco in which effective guarantees shall protect tho society of nations against 311 aggression on the part of one among them—these are the noble war aims of Franco, if one can speak of war aims when it is a question of a nation. which during '44 years, despite her open wounds, has done everything in order to spare humanity the horrors of war. As long as these aims are not reached France ■will continue to To prolong tho ■war one day more than '.. necessary •would, indeed, be to commit.the greatest crime in history, but to stop it a day too soon would be to deliver France into tho most degrading servitude. French Sacrifices.

"It is a difficult programme that 'the Government will set itself to carry out, .making private interests yield to the general interest, but it is aware of the fact that it is the nationitself in its conscious spirit of patriotism that can make the effort which shall count for most when the safety of the coxintryis at stake. This necessary coordination of the forces of the country is no less imperative between the Allies fighting together. It is necessary that they act as though they constituted a single nation, a single army, and a single front. All must equally contribute of their men, their arms, and their money. On this condition only the superiority of their resources, still too scattered, will become crushing. "Such a , policy will allow , France completely exhausting herself io meet at once her economic needs nnd guard her frontiers. Since August, 1914, the French Army has been the invincible shield of civilisation. Her Wood has been shed in torrents. It is necessary for the happy issue of the war J .hat she should keep to the end the plenitude of her vigour."