DEFENCES OF PARIS.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 July 1918, Page 7

DEFENCES OF PARIS.

POSSIBILITY OF SIEGE. Dealing with the appointment of the Paris Committee o£ Defence, Frederic Brunet, a Socialist Deputy, in an article in the Matin on June 8, said: — By another drive, - maae without regard to sacrifices, the Germans, if they did not enter Paris, perhaps could approach near enough to hold the capital under the fire of long-range guns, not, as now,' for an intermittent bombardment, but for methodic, permanent fire. Such conditions would render industrial life impossible, and the Government's will to resist must not be Influenced by the fear of sacrificing the lives of non-combatants or by fear jf the consequences which a cessation if. the output of the munition factories surrounding the capital would entail. M. Brunet highly approved the formation of the committee. Even the most unlikely, the most extreme possibilities ought to be considered, he said, until American contingents can turn the scale of effectives in our favour. Although I am convinced that our armies will keep the enemy far enough from the capital to prevent the horrors of an intensive bombardment, all measures should be taken to fortify the defence and insure the safety of the aged and the children. Paris cannot be abandoned. It must be defended with energy, for it is a supreme retreat where the fate of the country might be decided, and everything ought to be subordinated to • its preservation. So long as Germany seeks to impose domination (by force no peace is possible, and but one duty is imposed upon us —to fight and con- ; quer. The committee in question, whose duty it is to defend the Paris area, will not only study plans to meet the threat of invasion, which is regarded as improbable, but will deal with the problems caused by night air raids and the long-range bombardment, says a Havas Agency review of the committee's work which summarises the newspaper comment. The committee J also will take into consideration the J question of the morale of the population, with the confident assumption that while the enemy can strike he cannot break down the resolution or courage of the people.