HOLDING UP THE HANDS OF FRANCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13802, 30 September 1915, Page 3

HOLDING UP THE HANDS OF FRANCE.

NO PEACE UNTIL BELGIUM IS FREE. PARIS, Aug. 27. Speaking in the Parliament yesterday. Premier Viviani took up the criticisms which have been levelled at the War Office, and in part said : — "I am not going to speak; of the sanitary service alone," said the . Premier, "but also of Parliamentary incidents that cannot be ignored. In the higher interest of the country, by which we are judged, wo must justify the union I of 'Government and Parliament. "The home services of the War Department have accomplished their, tasks. 'In other quarters, other errors have been made, but Parliament has lent cordial co-operation without seeking at the time to fix responsibilities for mistakes. The 'errors have been repaired. "Let us banish pessimism and depresKion. France, by the grace of all her children's efforts, her public servants prompted by necessary criticism, is equal to tho task of fulfilling her destiny. "Put the question of peace before the country and it will be blown to nothing," the Premier continued. "Not until heroic Belgium has been freed; not until we have taken Alsace and Lorraine, could there be mischievous divisions between us. "We must destroy the legend that France has borne for 45 years a horrible wound, did not make provision for military defence. I must repeat the words of the Commander-in-Chief during the last session of the Chamber : "'The Republic may be proud of her armies.' "France has created an army fulfilling the mpst modern conceptions. She has instilled the love of justice, the love of right, and upon the day the war began, the children of France united in support of this high ideal, without which there would have been only armies of mercenaries." At this deputies sprang to their feet and cheered the Premier wildly. After Premier Viviani had concluded. Deputy Louis Accambray, who recently has several times criticised the Government's conduct of the war, took the floor and began, amid disorder, a criticism of Minister of War Millerand. Tho deputy spoke for an hour, but little, if anything, of what he said could bo heard because of the confusion. Afterwards several deputies spoke in approval of the Premier's address, and the Chamber voted the credits asked by the Government by 539 to J, 4