PETAIN’S PESSIMISM

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21159, 8 July 1940, Page 8

PETAIN’S PESSIMISM

JUDGMENT OF SITUATIONS 1918 VIEWS RECALLED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tei. copyright) LONDON, July 6 An article in the Swiss journal National Zeitung draws the conclusion that Marshal Petain’s judgment of strategic and political situations has been habitually pessimistic. Based largely on M. Poincare’s book Citoire et Armistice, the article states on this authority that M. Clemenceau reproached Marshal Petain on March 24, 1918, at Compieigne, for his extreme, pessimistic views, and for prophesying the loss of the war, caused by an inevitable defeat of the British Army. Marshal Foch complained to M. Clemenceau severely about Marshal Petain having such pessimistic views. M. Poincare describes Marshal Petain as a man seeing the black side of everything, and therefore giving the queerest commands. General de Gaulle this morning made his first inspection of the French volunteers in London. He visited the men’s living quarters, and said afterward that the bearing of the men and their keenness to carry on the war for the Allied cause had made an extremely happy impression.