A NOTABLE SPEECH

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2707, 29 February 1916, Page 2

A NOTABLE SPEECH

FRENCH WAR MINISTER THE CALL TO ARMS "Writing oil December 29, the, Paris correspondent of the "Morning Post" said:— The speech which General Gallieni delivered yesterday in the Senate,.when it was decided that the 1917 class shall be eallcd up on tlio sth of next month, sc-eins likely to creato an effect in Paris comparable with that caused by tho famous proclamation which he issued to tho city when ho assumed responsibility for its defence. The Senate, standing, ordered it to be posted up on all public buildings, and the newspapers this morning all emphasised tho phrase, which will probably become historic: "La- France, il y a seize mois, voulait la paix; aujourd'hui elle veut la guerre." The speech is of exceptional interest, especially for England, as it shows the complete harmony of view now existing between tho French and English Governments, and emphasises the urgent need for the nation to put out its utmost effort in the prosecution of the war. General Gallieni emphasised that the calling up of the class was a measure of precaution, it being essential that the class sliall_ be ready, if necessary, to join the active army next May. Then he turned from the military to the general problem, and said: ''Tho quostions relating to the calling up of the class only constituted one element, and that an almost infinitesimal element, of the grand problem. In reality all branches of the national life are involved by tho needs of the present war. We not only need .men to constitute armies, men to form .reserves, factories, and workshops to equip and arm them, hospitals to receive them, transport to feed tliem, and money to meet our expenses. We have also not to neglect our economic resources. With this object it is necessary that tho civil and military authorities should take. in common all > the measures necessitated by tho present circumstances and by forethought for the morrow. ... In agreomont with the Minister for Agriculture, I have formed a Departmental Committee to keep'in touch with the local authorities, and to arrange for the loan of the men and wagons necessary for agriculture. What I am attempting in this connection should be attempted also in many other branches of national activity; in fact, in all spheres of the economic life of the country. Particularly as regards tho 1917 class I have taken into consideration as much as possible tho wishes of your Army Committee.

"France, 16 months ago, wanted peace. To-day she wants war. She wants it with all her energy. She is using in it all her sons. She is devoting to it her every And if there is in any workshop any ill-inspired individual who ventures to talk of peace he is at once regarded as a bad citizen. . (Loud cheers.) . . . Tho 1917 class is being called on to march. One can say that the wholo nation ,is accompanying it. The nation insists that their duty should he done by all those whose business it is to receive those young men, to keep them in good health, and to form them for tho great struggle which will last till the day when France, in accord with her Allies, will say: 'I can stop. I have obtained my desire, and can return to tho works of peace.'"