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Show sural sib WILL WITNESS I FRENCHViCTOnY President Poincare Sends a Patriotic Message Extolling Extoll-ing Bravery of Soldiers at the Front ADMITS THE WAY IS LONG AND BLOODY Declares, However, That Peace in Any Suspicious Form Would Bring Only Dishonor. PARTS, Dec 31, 6:10 p. m. (delayed). "Nineteen hundred and sixteen will be our year of victory," says President Poincare in a message to the officers find soldiers of France which is being distributed along the whole front tonight. to-night. The message, which is one of p-eat simplicity, expresses the confidence confi-dence of the entire nation in its defenders. de-fenders. The letter follows: Like you, my noble friends, I have road with emotion in the army bqlletin messages addressed to you on the eve of, the new year by the mayors of our large cities. The same language is used by ail these French cities and it is easy today to draw from these numerous expressions the unanimous sentiment of the country. Everywhere you have seen maintained main-tained without effort this sacred union spontaneously established seventeen months ago under the menace of the i enemy. Why would not the civil population follow the example of agreement and harmony which you give it? In the trenches and on the battlefields you hardly think of considering con-sidering your personal opinions. Civil discord does not disturb the fraternity fra-ternity of arms, which, with its common com-mon points and identical duties, binds one and all. You have your eyes fixed on an ideal whirh constantly diverts your attention from secondary objects and you know that your patriotic pa-triotic mission cannot be performed by others. Duty of Those at Home. Wlille you are thus sacrificing everything to the salvation of the nation, na-tion, is it not natural that those Frenchmen whose ape, health or duties prevent them from meeting at vour side the fatigue and perils of war work should a t least repel harmful suggestions of hatred and conserve tiie public peace? Tiie mayors of France have spoken of some of the charitable works resulting re-sulting from the successful Joining of heartB. Most of these Institutions are destined to aid you, your aged parents, your children, your wounaed or imprisoned brothers. In cities farthest from the front your condition condi-tion thus remains constantly present in all minds and concentrates the thoughts of those who might be inclined in-clined to forget. The mourning which has darkened the home of so many families, moreover, imposes on those who have been less severely afflicted1 tiie pitious obligation of meditation and gravity. All the French people feel the same affliction, and there is not one who dons not listen with respect re-spect to the stern lesson of the day a lesson of courage, of patience, of will, of calm, of confidence and of serenity. Outcome Concerns AIL Everywhere it is the same a de-termied de-termied resolution to hold fast, to endure en-dure and to vanquish. Everyone knows the stakes of the war are great and that the outcome concerns not only our dignity, but our life. Shall we tomorrow to-morrow be the vassals of a foreign empire? Phall our industries, our commerce, our agriculture, be placed forever under the influence of a power which openly flatters itself on aspiring aspir-ing to universal domination, or shall we safeguard our economic independence inde-pendence and national autonomy? This Is a terrible problem, which admits ad-mits of no half-way solution. Any peace which came to us with sus picions form and equivrval purpose would hrhig us only dishonor, ruin and nervii nde. The free and pure genius oi" our race, our nmst venerated traditions, the ideals which are dearest to us, the Interests of our citizens, the fortunes of our country, the soul of tho nation, everything which has been left by our ancestors and all that we ourselves own, would bo the prey of German brutality. Who, then, would, by impatience or lassitude, thus sell to Germany the past and future t Fiance? Yes. certainly cer-tainly the war is long. Tt Is everything every-thing for us and it is bloody, but how much future suffering are we spared by our present suffering ' No French person desired this war. Ali governments govern-ments since 1S71 have endeavored to avoid such a war. Now that it has been declared ngai nst us in spite of ourselves, we must carry It on, with our faithful allies. unt 11 we have gained victory, the annihilation of German militarism and the entire reconstruction re-construction of Fra nee. To permit ourselves to falter even momentarily would he to be ungrateful to our dead and to betray posterity. We muM 'perse vero obstinately In the will to win. Is it not the surest means of bringing about victory? In the war which we are carrying on so valiantly in France. Belgium and the oast, the part played by implements imple-ments of destruction has become of essential Importance and it is the imperious duty of the government to furnish you constantly with the most powerful weapons and an abundance of munitions. Rut moral power Is the foremost consideration for final success. suc-cess. The beaten side will not neces-sarilv neces-sarilv be that which hp- had the heaviest losses or has endured the most misery. It will be the side which , becomes wearied first. We shall not I become wearied. ! France Confident. France is confident because you are there. How many times have I heard your officers say: "Never at any time have we had a finer army. Never have men been better trained, more brave, more heroic than ours." Wherever T have seen you T have felt a thrill of admiration and hope. Yon will win. The year which Is . beginning will bring you. my friends, elation of heart for having accom -plislied the defeat of the enemy and the joy of returning to your homes, there to celebrate the victory calmly with those whom you love. (Signed) RAYMOND POTNCAKE. |