THE EVE OF WAR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14209, 25 May 1910, Page 7

THE EVE OF WAR.

FRENCH ILLUSIONISTS BEFORE THEIR. DEFEAT.

Writing under the above heading in the. World, M. Andre Jlevil says:—

I'lie cry of ill arm .sent up by Mr Blatchford in the Daily Mail on the subject of Germany lias attracted a good deal of notice in France. We sincerely hope our English friends will avail themselves of the lessons ivo were taught in 1870, and listen to those who take upon themselves the thankless task of opening their eyes. It is because we would neither Lear nor see, because we would listen to no warnings, it is for liaving believed in a peaceful France, that France fell. May England remember it! Strangely enough, Heine was tlib first to warn France against the "Germany of linden trees and little blue flowers," and he added, ''Whatever happens in Germany, keep yourselves ready and armed." After Sadowa, Germlan ambition rose, and it was decided to attack France. Everything was set in motion on the other side of the Rhine to make ready for this war with incomparable method and precision. At the very moment when they were preparing to assail us everything was done to reassure and calm the French public opinion, which fell' with great simplicity into all the traps that were prepared for it. Tn France itself an energetic propaganda was carried on by German agents in favour of disarmament. The blessings of universal peace were proclaimed by them; soma of the most eminent men of the day were deceived by these dangerous theories. Emile de Girardin, the ctebrated publicist, declared thalr a rrar was an imaginary danger: mien like Thiers, Gambetta, Jules Favre, who later beennio ardent patriots in time of peril tlie first two were the souls of the national defence —al(so 'adopted pacific

ideas. Instead of strengthening the French Army, their sole thought whs to diminish it. When Marshal Niel, the Minister of War, laid before Parliament a law imposing universal military service, iie was neither understood nor approved. Jules Fa-vre in his l'amous apostrophe cried, "You will turn France into a vast barracks." To which the Marshal answered in a piiarse no ess famous, "And you, you wish to turn France into a vast cemetery." Some time after, Marshal Niel died, How his prophetic words have since re-echoed in their ears! In England,; by a strange coincidence, it is also ■ two men who have long borne the ae- j tual responsibility of high command — | Lord Roberts and Admiral Charles I Beresford —who have warned their fel- j low-citizens , demanding also that- Eng- I land should make an immense military I cifort to face the- German danger. I'd i the optimists, to the blind, they also could repeat with all the authority of their names the terrible retort made by Marshal Niel to Favr<^. It is known in England that one month before the declaration of war the question of disarmament was being gravely discussed in the French Parliament:- On June 30th, 1870, Gar- 1 nier Pages made the famous speech, in which lie said:—"Eoreign .Powers have understood that ruin was inevitable, and that it was necessary, first of all, whatever neighbours were doing and whatever they intended to do. to disarm.'' Alter asserting that England, Austria and Italy were ready to adopt the same measure, he added":— "'What- is taking place in Germany at the present moment;-' You know there is a general and ardent struggle, of which the object is to diminish, the army. Attempts are being mad? to •nv-. M. de Bismarck to reduce the forces of the Confederation of the North; disarmament is desired and everywhere demanded—in Bavaria, in Wurtemburg, and in aIL States of the South of Germany, and in Prussia as well. We should imitate their example." Fifteen days later war, in consequence of the infamous manoeuvre contrived by Bismarck with the complicity of Moltke, became inevitable. This is all very striking. History is still the greatest source of instruction there is. Of course, Prussia exerted itself with marvellous cunning, and witlx a power of dissimulation wh it'll amounted to genius, never to alarm France. Oil L.very occasion Bismarck was careful to make a show of the most peaceful sentiments. "Xc-ver," lie said to the trench Ambassador at Berlin, "would we make war on you unless you ea 1.110 and iired point blank at us in our own country.'' During the Exhibition of 1807 he came to Paris with his Sovereign, and made every effort to reassure cvi'rybady 'and convince all ot his amiable intentions: so that- when a. tew people after the wars against Denmark and Austria, grew afraid of Prussian ambition, and of the danger oi a German Empire rising next to us. they were mocked at. Mas not Prussia peaceful and moving towards disarmament And was not France strong; her army, about which Marshal Leboetif asserted that not a gaiter button was missing, was it not invincible/ The guns of Sedan were soon to bring these illusions to the ground and show the dreadful reality. Attain. 1 say, what a lesson ?