M. CLEMENCEAU AT THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 253, 13 July 1918, Page 8

M. CLEMENCEAU AT THE FRONT

-0 A CHARACTERISTIC INCIDENT. The "Giornnle d'ltalia's" correspondent with the French armies tells a characteristic story of M. Clemenccau. During his last visit lo the front tho veteran P.remier stood transfixed with moistened eyes before the corpse of a l'rcnch infantryman, impaled on barbed wire, while enemy shells came bursting nearer and nearer. Suddenly a young officer ran panting towards the Premier, exclaiming: "Monsieur !e Premier, the commander begs you to seek instant shelter in yonder dugout, for it's a big Imrrago that's now beginning." "And why should I hide?" asked tho Premier. "Supposing [ was struck, wouldn't thnt be a fine death at my ago? What better could a man desire?" Adopting a sarcastic tone, M. Clemenceau added: "Liston, my friend, I no longer love. Women and men disgust me. It would be just tho moment to ; make a fine finish." Then, turning again to gaze mi the dead eoldier, the aged statesman apostrophised the corpse, saying: "And you, 0 hero, you wero young; you had long life before'yon; you never did harm to any- : body. You were in love with tho women, you believed in the men. Wouldn't it be better that you were hero, liv--1 ing, and that ni,y old carcass were hang- ! in? in your stead?"