No lists of her dead or wounded are published; it was at first a life-and-death struggle.

While the total casualties--killed, wounded, missing, and prisoners--were estimated in the press reports and by the people as 600,000, I happen to know that they were more than 1,000,000.

Of these, of course, one third or more will return to the battle-line, and the French have the satisfaction of knowing that the German losses are far larger.

But, viewed from a financial standpoint, if this war is not too prolonged or too costly in life and treasure, France will emerge from it rejuvenated and reenergized.
Her people are serious and determined as never before.

They now welcome strong work and strong hands, and if the Republic does not respond to the responsibilities of the hour, they will not as in 1870 burn and destroy, but will set up another government in quick order and wipe out the weakness and inefficiency found to exist when the strain came in August, 1914.
The French nation has never before been put to such a trial.