Paris, Jan. 1.
The year has closed with the decision of various questions affecting the provision of men and money to carry on the war. The great 5 per cent. loan issue has closed, the income-tax is to come into force at the beginning of 1916, and the 1917 class of recruits is to be called up to begin training on January 65. To gild the pill, no doubt, French parents are told that the call for these youths of eighteen is merely a precautionary measure and that, though they should be ready for service in May, they may not be wanted at all. This, of course, deceives no one, but, if there be any murmuring, it is in secret. Franco has put her hand to the plough and does not mean to draw back.
As General Galliéni, the War Minister, said in the Senate, French mothers will send their young sons to average those who have fallen.
The loan is stated to have raised fourteen and a half milliards of francs, which, at the old rate of exchange, represents £580,000,000. This figure, however, is somewhat misleading, as it includes a large amount of short-term certificates which were converted into the new 5 per cent stock. The addition in hard cash to the resources of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.