FRANCE’S DUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1897, 31 October 1918, Page 1

FRANCE’S DUE.

“MUST HAVE FULL COMPENSATION.” TRIBUTE TO HEROIC FRENCHWOMEN. Dr. Siegfried, of the French Mission, made a notable speech at the annual dinner of the Chamber of Manufactures in Sydney. On resuming his seal he was accorded an ovation. He selected as his theme the depredations, the wanton exactions, and the studied robberies of the Germans. “You gentlemen,” he said, with passionate eloquence, “have no true conception of the depredations of (ho German invaders in the early days of the war.” Then he paused as if (he memory of'those terrible days had temporarily overcome him. He added: “It was not an invasion; it was a gigantic highway robbery. And,” he declared with dramatic emphasis, “France must have full compensation —full reparation —for those wanton robberies!” STEALING THE TREASURES. When cheering at this point had ceased, Dr, Siegfried, speaking with convincing earnestness, said: “II was not the German soldiers who wore the real robbers; it was (he German High Command. Batches of men, books and pencils in hand, were sent to lake inventories of the best of the cities of Lille, of Roubaix, and scores of other places. Long lines of trucks were packed with these treasures —works of art and works of industry —and taken to Germany. But,” he explained. “France must have full compensation for those robberies; the Allied armies demand it.” SPIRIT OF THE NATION. Dr, Siegfried then told the story of the heroic women of France; how they tilled the Helds, went into the factories and.unselfishly took up the duties of the men at the war in all spheres of employment. He related how those women of France worked in factories with.in range of the Gorman guns. CRITICAL DAYS. “The thunder of German cannon,” he declared, “does not frighten (he women of France; they have tried their best to keep French industries going whilst their husbands, their brothers, their relatives—the manhood of France —went forth in never-ending columns to tight the invader. In those terribly critical days in September, 11)1-1, during the first battle of the Marne, the women of France were resolute and constant, determined to do their duty to the nation in its hour of stress and trial. Just as resolute, just as constant, were those women in March last, when the Germans rushed down in never-ending hordes from St. Quentin. Still they worked and toiled; in the Held, in the factory, wherever they could help the nation. It is the spirit of the nation that sustains these women of France. Husbands, brothers, relatives, are lost, hut the heroic souls of the women of France remain undaunted. THE SPIRIT OF FRANCE. “French men and French women,” concluded Dr. Siegfried, ‘•cannot forget the terrible wrong that Germany has done to France. Franco will never bo satisfied til! she has received from Germany full and adequate compensation for robberies and cruel and unnecessary depredations. The spirit of France in this war is what the spirit of Rome Avas during the invasion of Italy, when-Hannibal, the Carthaginian, crossed the Alps and took up a position on the Trebia. The Romans leaxmed where the battle was to be fought. So great was their confidence in the Roman army, under Ceipio, that the field was put up for auction in the public market-place and bought on behalf of the nation. Such was the confidence of Rome in the prowess of her army; such is the confidence of France in the valour of her soldiers!”