New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-13

Office of vice president of the superior
Council of War at the same time doing
away. of course, with the impression
that its holder was likely TO be invested
with supreme command in the event Of
war Il has created in it's stead the
office of chief of the General Staff, in
vcsting its holder with the supreme COM
mand of all the eastern armies. to he
exercised not only i'm time Of war but
also i'm times Of peace, 50 that when
hostiitics break out he may have his
STAFF Thoroughly organized and ac-
mainted with his views and that he
may Ice i'm complete understanding with
the generals at the head of the various
army corps under his command. His
! letter Of appointment is 60 be renewed
! each wear. not by the Minister of War.
but by the President Of the republic and
/ 10y the Council Of Ministers, until the
general concerned reaches the age limit
FOR retirement.
This Office President Falicrcs and the
government. in Difference TO the unani-
NOUS opinion of the Council Of War and
of all the leading generals Of the French
/ army. and i'm compliance also with pop
uIar sentiment offered in the first place
to General Pau. as the one soldier of all
others fitted for the post. General Pau
however. declined it, although II is Ger
tainly the greatest honor that could be
bestowed upon French soldier now
adays when the grade Of Marshal of
. ~. nf
Perhaps he felt that by reason of his
religious principles he would always be
On object Of more or less suspicion 70
the anti-clerical element Of the govern
Iment. and that this suspicion would
hamper him in the exercise OF his duties
in such way as to affect injuriously
the safety of the eastern frontier. Then,
too. he would under any circumstances
nc forced to retire, on the score of age
limit. in two years time.
So he nominated in his stead General
Joffre. inspector general Of the military
schools and educational establishments
Of France, and who enjoys the distinc-
ton of being the youngest general OF
division Born in January, 49,, he has
nearly six years before attaining the age
Init for retirement. General Pau's
nomination of General Joffre was in
dorsed by all his fellow members of the
Conseil SUPERIOR de Guerre, and adopted
by the Minister Of War, by President
Fallieres and by the government.
Like General Pau. the new generals
: simo received his commission in the clos
ing years of the Second Empire, and as
q young sub-lieutenant Of eighteen. a
pupil Of Frances famous Ecole Poly
technique, he took part in the war of
1870. and distinguished himself during
the siege Of Paris as an officer of artll-
lery After the war he returned to the
Ecolc Polytechnique. and received on
graduation commission as lieutenant
'of the engineering corps. in which he
spent the greater portion Of his military
cqrccr. ii took him out 10 China. 10
Tcngking. to the Soudan, To western
Africa and 10 Madagascar his principal
feat Of arms being the capture of tho
once 50 mysterious and important Cen
tral African city Of Timbuctoo.
IN THE EVENT OF WAR.
While General Joffre thus becomes
chef of the General staff the office be
ing associated with that Of generals
simo. General Dubail retains his position
as chiee of staff. and in the event of
war breaking out would remain at the
Wal Department in Paris TO serve as
Intermediary between the generassimo
in the field and the Minister or war.
Fortunately General Dubail Is I'm thor
ough sympathy with General Johre ana
having been one Of thos who joined
General Pau i'm nominating him for the
posi- is ready 10 work not only with him
but under him.
II may Dee pointed out that IN thr
rrussian-Danish Wnto of 1861. in the
.lau-Austrinn War of -" and
ina il.. Frnco-G rman War oi 1870 abe
dr fJcto ecncralissimo Of the German
army i'm the field was Field Marshal
Count Motkc with the rank oi chiri oi
! the General stan. This office enabled
him to prepare ever. hing beforehand III
such d manner that Ia was able To move
his troops with almost mathematical