The New Zealand Herald AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1944 FRENCH RENAISSANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25054, 18 November 1944, Page 6

The New Zealand Herald AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1944 FRENCH RENAISSANCE

Writing in 1873 under the shadow of the first German victory, Victor Duruy, historian of France, expressed a patriot's hope. "I venture," he said, "to hope that a new France will spring up, ardent in thought and action, to continue the glorious role played by the old France in the history of civilisation. The world has still need of this 'country, whose influence it has so long accepted, to whose attractions it cannot but submit." After some words of just praise for the French tradition in European thought and art, Duruy concluded with a question which had an echo last week in Paris. "Who knows but that the broken sword left in our hands after a sudden misfortune may not one day be required to defend universal liberty against brutal ambitions'?" "In what is left of this frightful war," said Mr Churchill in the Hotel de Ville, "France shall play the greatest possible part." France has, indeed, earned that right—at Bir Hakim, on the Gustav Line, in Haute Savoie, and on a score of battlefields less renowned but no less heroic. And so, after 70 years, the French historian's prophecy approaches fulfilment. The broken sword, forged anew, will swing in the last battle. In such a "spring of the people" as Europe saAV in 1848, the Fourth Republic is taking shape. Making word-play with a. slogan of the Revolution, Mr Churchill urged last week that unity, stability, and solidarity should be its watchwords. If "ardent in thought and action," renascent France can add these three to the articles of faith of her First Republic, the shame and suffering of four hateful years will not have been in vain.

The friends of France have had much cause for thankfulness. There was well-grounded fear that they would have to deal with a shellshocked nation, loosened in moral fibre by the neurosis of defeat. In comparatively recent months, according to Gripsholm evacuees, theft, treason, juvenile gangsterism, crimes of meaningless violence and basest blackmail, darkened life in France. Chaos and anarchy might easily have followed Nazi rule. Instead of disease, however, the liberators have found social convalescence. Refreshed by the native air of France, where liberty is taken strangely for granted, the leaders of the exiled Government, also, have regained balance and calm. Authoritarian tendencies, evident in Algiers, appear to have disappeared in the face of the discipline and self-con-trol, found so commonly and unexpectedly at home. Suspicion concerning the personal prejudices and democratic outlpok of de Gaulle himself cannot escape the refutation of fact. Of the General's own popularity there is no shadow of doubt, while his Government is broadly based, tolerant and visibly growing in strength. "It can be said," remarked the Economist recently, "that the first lifting of the veil from the true face of France shows a picture of dignity, temperateness and remarkable independence. There is thus some ground for hoping that a functioning system of local authority will be maintained, and that the transfer from the regime of servitude to the regime of liberation will be effected free from the taint of partisanship and fratricidal war." Since those words were written such a hope has drawn near to certainty, but few, until last week, expected to see France move with a stride into the front rank of nations.

And that, as the poet says, will be "a bitterness to her foes." They swell where they have dwelt since Roman days, across the Rhine. "France is and will remain the implacable enemy of Germany," wrote Hitler, and the words are rooted in history. Greed for the rich resources of the French plains and river valleys, and ancient hatred for a culture more advanced, have ever made the Rhine a stormy frontier. That Petain could see in German domination a hope for spiritual cleansing in his native land was the measure of his aged folly. France has won cleansing by the example of Britain in arms, and the glowing faith of her own free remnant. That same remnant, schooled in British ways, has returned to govern France, aided by all good men who have endured with hearts intact the German slavery. It was in the strength of this new cordiality that Mr Churchill presumed to recommend three British qualities to his Parisian audience. It is possible that the coming years will see a rich British contribution to the life of France. If so it will be an ancient debt repaid, and one which, in the repaying, will win a new reward. The best security for Britain against her most bitter foe lies in the fact that France likewise is loathed implacably. France knows it and should be free, this time, to act. WESTERN FRONT OFFENSIVES The world will be agog for further information on the offensives in' which six of the Allied armies in varying proportions are now engaged on .the Western Front. Light is sought principally on the question whether this is the great war-win-ning operation which may send the German forces reeling and perhaps bring the hostilities to an early close. It has been said that the six Allied armies are on the attack from Arnhem in Holland to the Swiss border, but on the information at present available that is hardly correct. The front is comparatively quiet from the mouth of the Maas and along the river's course past Nijmegen to below Venlo, a distance of roughly 140 miles. Then comes an active zone of some 55 miles to Monschau, south-east of Aachen. In this zone there are employed the right wing of the Second Army, the American Ninth and the left wing of the American First. Army. Another quiet zone of 80 miles to Koenigsmacker is next. It is held by tlje right wing of the First and the left wing of the Third Army. From Koenigsmacker to the Belfort Gap, ia distance of 150 miles, the

front generally may be described as active, although there is intense fighting at only a few places such as Metz, the approaches to the Lorraine Passes over the Vosges, and, in the Doubs Valley before Belfort. In sura, the reports disclose offensive action on about half of the Western Front. It will be safe to discount any suggestion that these are probing actions in search of weak spots in the enemy's defences. They can, however, develop into wedges which may dislocate his front. The news will be scanned for information on this point, and of extensions of the front or more concentrations on the lines of that in the Aachen sector. Details of enemy withdrawals where little pressure has been applied will also shed light on the possible course of the campaign. CHALLENGE TO MR WEBB Having enjoyed a very brief respite from coal and gas troubles, Auckland is faced with another period of famine which may come before Christmas, but, on present evidence, will certainly be here in January. Because the mines are to be closed for holidays, the Auckland Gas Company must have a reserve of 7000 tons of coal on December 24, for it will be some time after the miners resume work before the first of the New Year shipments will reach Auckland. Coal is controlled by the Government. It is pertinent to ask the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, what he is going to do about it while there is yet time. It is easy to imagine how Mr Webb would rant if he were in Opposition and another Government had the responsibility of meeting the position. The onus is fairly and squarely upon his shoulders to see that sufficient coal reaches Auckland before Christmas to ensure that gas for at least domestic services and essential industries is available over the holiday period and in January. He should do this even if it means staggering the miners' vacation. If a worth-while effort is made by Mr Webb, the public will accept philosophically a measure of rationing. If nothing else, it would be an act of grace on Mr Webb's part if he acknowledged that the consumer as well as the producer of coal has some rights. But above acknowledgments, apologies and explanations, Auckland needs coal. It is Mr Webb's job to see it is supplied.