FRANCE AND THE,WAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 96, 17 January 1919, Page 6

FRANCE AND THE,WAR

A WONDERFUL INDUSTRIAL EFFORT . AN APPEAL FOR SYMPATHY "France was. not surprised by the war," said Dr. Andre Siegfried, of the French Mission, at the New Zealand Club luncheon yesterday. "But our Government and country thought the war, would be entirely different from what it proved to be.. We expected a brief war and a sudden decision. We thought that the war might last three, four, or at most six months. We made another mistake. A word given means something to a Frenchman, and wo thought that the' Germans would not pass through Belgium. We did not expect that the German armies.would march through Brussels and Ghent to Lille. That is why we ■ massed our armies on. the eastern frontier and lef. the northern frontier practically undefended. We wore taken by surprise and the northern portion of cur country Was invaded.

"The situation in September, 1914, after the Battle of the.'Manic, was an extremely difficult one for France. We had-thought that the war would be a short war, and wo had prepared for an immense and intense effort. We saw now that the war was likely to last months or even years more, and that we had to face new problems, demanding not only the will to endure, but organisation and technical skill. The. situation-in October, 1914, was terrible. The northern part of the country,' the great industrial. part of France, was invaded. We were in the position that Britain would-be in' if deprived of. Manchester, Leeds, ' and Birmingham. Perhaps two-thirds of our metallurgical strength was in the hands of the enemy, and we had got to produce the munitions for a prolonged struggle:

"We had released our munition workers to the front. The plants wore empty. Every man had been called up from 18s. to 46 j-ears of age, employers just-the same as employees. Our factories were empty of men, and, in many cases also of raw materials. We had. been deprived of our 'best mineral-pro-ducing and manufacturing areas. Our fields also had been emptied of men. The peasants had been called to the colours, and we had to reply for the cultivation of the soil on old men, Women, and children. The situation was indeed terrible, and if at the time we did not lose'confidence it was because we knew our cause was a just cause and 'because we believed in the destiny and strength of our country and the friendship of our allies.

"We turned all our national strength towards the war. This was done not merely in the trenches, but also behind the trenches by everybody. Every French citizen understood the position. Every man, woman, and child took part in the war and had a duty to the country. That was why, when the Government of France took such powers of requisition over men and goods as no country had ever taken before, the State found all the citizens ready to.do their duty, never shirking and never complaining. This war has been won by the whole French nation.' We have been in the condition of the wars, of the French Revolution, when the whole nation took part in the battle because they saw they were fighting for their liberty. "The aspects of the great industrial fight made by France are numerous. There was the question of production. People who have visited France during the last four years have noticed that there were no workers except old men, women, and children on-the farms. The fields have been a little less well-culti-vated, but the work.has gone on. The French Government had lost about onesixth or one-seventh of the productive territory of the country, and it decided that tho remaining areas must be cultivated as nearly as possible right up to the trenches. The*"fields were ploughed within 2000 yards of the enemy. 1 have seen peasants ploughing fields under shell-fire. I have seen some of the beautiful fields of France with shell-holes everywhere. These shellholes did not stay. They were ploughed over again and the seed Was sown. "People have told me that opportunities for trade are , here, that other feople are on the spot, and that the 'rench are losing chances through not being; forward in the competition for trade. I reply that the Frenchmen have not come here becauso they have been busy in the trenches or the munition factories. They have not had goods to. sell because the goods were not being produced. All production was reserved for tho State; and it was all for war purposes. You have not seen French motor-cars for the last four years. France's production of motorcars for civilian use.has been suspended. You have not sepn the work of the French factories during the war —but you have heard of them.

"France in normal times imports about two-thirds of her coal. It was most important during the war that we should produce as much : coal as possible for our war industries. Unfortunately, about two-thirds of our mines -were in the invaded country. The Government decided that every mine should be worked to its full capacity, oven under shell fire. I saw mines during 1916 and -1917 being worked within 2000 and 3000' yards of the enemy. The work was terrible. The men .had to enter the mines and como out again during the hours of darkness, because if they wore seen they would be They had to face attack by enemy aeroplanes and gas shells. They had to watch for poison gas. A great electrical-plant that was furnishing power for one of the mines was situated within 3000 yards of tho trenches, and had to be protected by sandbags. _ It was shelled, but it escaped serious injury. - The mine workers were great fighters for the cause of the nation." ■

In conclusion Dr. Siegfried said that France'in the future would be a greater industrial nation than ever before. The organisation made necessary by' tho war would be of vast service to the nation in time of peace, and the recovery of Alsace-Lorraine — (applause) — would give France important mineral resources. France, like New Zealand, was* a country of .abundant waterpower, and thero would be important developments in that connection. He asked for_ the assistance and sympathy of the British people in the reorganisation of tho country that had suffered so greatly during four years of dreadful war. (Applause.) -"

M.Leclerq-Motte said that he could not speak without emotion of his native province in Northern France. It' had been the most prosperous district of France, foremost in the woollen industry and foremost in tho metallurgical industries. Its towns had been busy and its fields had been productive. Now everything was in ruin. The provinco had possessed 2,365,000 spindles for the worsted industry, and about 1,000,000 spindles for tho woollen industry. Ho had no news of the condition of his own town. Roubaix, but he knew that in; Cambrai practically all the spindles had been destroyed by the Germans. The great export trade of the district had been ruined. . France was importing manufactured woollens instead of exporting them.

"We have to restore the province, and we want your help," he said. "The Germans have taken £20,000,000 worth of wool from us. They have taken even ■the mattresses from the old people. They have" taken all the copper, tho

tho electrical appliances, t!ie bearings from our machines. We have suffered more than any of the other Allies. We have suffered not only physically but morally. Tho Germans have been ill our homes, living side by side with our parents for some four years. Now, thank God, our people are free. (Applause.) Don't forget their sufferings. The old people, who have been labouring all their lives, have seen the work of their lives crumble under tho heel of the enemy." The speaker quoted a suggestion made by President Wilson that the Allies should give priority in the supply of ra_w materials and in exports to the districts that. had' suffered during {lie invasion. _ There was a practical side to tho question. France had been a large customer of Now Zealand and hoped to be a large customer again. It was in the interests of the British people to build up France, the champion of civilisation. The Germans must not be givon a chance to rise again. France mui»t bo strong and must be rich. ' "Ws want a fair start," added M. LeclerqMotte. • "You are sportsmen and you know what I mean." (Applause.} The members of the" French Club were associated with the New' Zealand Club in entertaining the French visitor":. General Pan and Commandant Andre were unable to be present, tho indisix>srfcion N of the head of the mission having kept him in the south. Tho chair was taken by.Mr. W. E. Spencer. The Acting-Prime Minister (Sir"James Allen), the Mavnr of Wellington (Mr. •T. P. Luke. M.P.), and Captain W. M. de 11. Barclay were, among those present. •■ , '