"Young Alsace'

Highest reasons of state caused Premier Raymond Nicholas Landry Poincare to speed, last week, from Paris to Strasbourg. Though the city is chiefly famed for producing pates de foie gras and as the place where La Marseillaise was composed, Strasbourg loomed last week exclusively as the political focus of Alsace-Lorraine.

Today two vital events impend in these onetime "Lost Provinces," which were regained by France from Germany at the close of the War: 1) Throughout Alsace-Lorraine there will shortly be tried numerous pro-German citizens charged with plotting against France; 2) At the very time when passions are being stirred by these trials, Alsace-Lorrainers will be casting ballots in the French general election of this Spring.

Clearly it behooved Premier Poincara, last week, to meet the challenge of both these coming events by delivering a speech which would fire Alsace-Lorrainer with especial loyalty to France.

Mayors. Before a banquet audience of 559 Alsace-Lorraine mayors, M. Poincare rose up to speak, in Strasbourg. He who can be inflexible and glacial was now charming, and soon forensically vivid. Raising his glass in a preliminary toast, he cried: "I drink to the Alsace that is passionately, invincibly French!"

Awkward Squad. Of the malcontents now awaiting trial M. Poincare thundered: "They are a miserable awkward squad of adventurers plotting for the amputation and mutilation of France."

Scouting the contention that Germans might be permitted to maintain a "cultural influence" in the German-speaking areas of Alsace-Lorraine, he rapped: "We do not attempt to intervene in Belgium, Switzerland or Canada, on the pretense of protecting the French language or traditions in those countries. And we shall not permit foreign influence to glide into the administration of our own domestic affairs!"

Thoroughly aroused, M. Poincare then flayed those awaiting trial as "a hapless mixture of genuine separatists, theoretical autonomists, mere idealists, and dupes [of Germany]."

Electioneering. With the matter of those to be tried thus disposed of, Premier Poincare turned to electioneering pure and simple. Fervently, though at times sketching the truth, he cried: "France never formulated the idea of revanche*. . . We waited immobile and anxious before the sphinx of Destiny until the day when the Imperial Governments of Austria and Germany, drunk with pride, loosed on their peoples and ours that catastrophe which until the last minute we strove to avoid. . . . On that day of days we were free again, and we swore never to lay down our arms before we had assured the double deliverance of Alsace and Lorraine.''

Most significant and worth re-reading are the above sentences, when it is remembered that historians generally deem M. Poincare an authentic pre-War apostle of revanche. By his own statement of last week he welcomed the War, once it had been begun, with an holy joy. Enemies are not lacking to charge that, as President of France (1913-1920), M. Poincare schemed with Russia to precipitate the War.

"Young Alsace." Orator Poincare concluded his electioneering appeal last week, thus:

"In the next election you of Alsace-Lorraine should put this question to those who want to represent you: 'Are you French? French without reserve, without consideration, with reticence? . . .'

"I know in advance with what vigor Alsace-Lorraine will reject those (candidates) who try to hide their answer behind, 'ifs' and 'buts.' "

To judge from the ovation which followed, Premier & Lawyer Poincare had won his case. While most of the 559 mayors shouted "Vive la France!" he dramatically saluted with a kiss Mlle. Jeanette Wolff, aged 9, daughter of the Mayor of Bountzenheim by whom she was presented as "Young Alsace."

Malcontents. While Premier Poincare returned to Paris, last week, observers scanned Alsace-Lorraine for the jailed malcontents and plotters against whom he had fulminated.

Soon it appeared that only small fry have been jailed. Still at liberty in Colmar is that master mind of pro-German plotters in Alsace, the notorious Abbe Haegy. A tall, ascetic priest, with cold eyes, thin lips and eloquently gesturing hands, he was busy last week personally editing his pro-German newspaper, while several members of its staff languish in jail.

Typically the chief pro-German plotters in Alsace-Lorraine are led by Roman Catholic priests like the Abbe Haegy. Reason: the Imperial German Government deliberately founded and fostered Catholic schools throughout Alsace in which youths were carefully trained up in zeal for Rome and Germany and in detestation of France which has disestablished the Roman Catholic Church.

Progress. Not a year passes without the assimilation of Alsace-Lorraine into France becoming more marked. Points of progress: 1) The entire Germanic judicial system has been transformed to correspond with French law; 2) Education is proceeding bilingually, the student being instructed in both French and German; 3) Commercially Alsace-Lorraine has forged far ahead of pre-War records. The port of Strasbourg on the Rhine has doubled its loadings since 1914. Doubled also is the value of tobacco, oil and iron produced each year. Meanwhile the hop harvest has increased in value from 25,000,000 francs to 150,000,000; 4) Finally the bilingual and bicultural unity of Alsace-Lorraine is constantly being cemented by such newspapers as The Latest News, of Strasbourg, which is printed daily in two exactly duplicated editions, one in French, one in German.

* I. e., a "war of revenge" upon Germany to recover Alsace-Lorraine, which had been seized by Germany from France in 1871.