The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-13
GENERALS IN FRANCE
KEPT ON ACTIVE LIST

the retired list. imputed 70 him SIMS
ter political motives. charged MIN with
running the spirit OF French command
crs. and as3=iled, AK Incompetent and
stupid. General chomer, under whose
orders he had taken part In the recent
grand nanoouvree.
Tho Minister OF War had retired
General Faurio. and four other gem
erals. on tho recommendation not only
of tho chief OF tho general stnff. Gen
eral Joftre, tho do facto generalssino
OF the army. but also OF the Supreme
Council OF War. which. composed OF
the foremost generals on the active
list, constitutes an advisory board In
all military matters to the minister.
Tho officers thus disciplined had shown
themselves TO bo lamantably incom-
pentent during the recent army ma
noeuvrcs. and were responsible for
tho confusion which marred the opera
tons--operations that eliminated
in something very much akin 10 II
hasco General Faurie was regarded
as specially blancw orthy, and should
have bean retired long ago. AT the
recent mauoeuvres he allowed his Amy
corps 10 be enveloptd by the enemy.
and theoretically wiped out, while In
the grand nanocuvrcs of 1911 he DIS
tinguished himself by getting captured
with his entire stnff by the cavalry OF
the opposing forces.
To this must be added that General
Fauris Is generally hated in the army
for the reason that he owed his ad-
vancsnent 10 tho rank of full general
TO the assistance which he gave to
General Andre, when Minister of War.
in the so-calle.l "aifairo les iiches.
Andre inaugurated Il system OF hches
or dossiers for officers throughout the
army, tho dossiers or secret records OF
each onicer. dealing with his political.
and, above all, With his religious opin-
ions. and those of his family: records
that were gathered BY means of es-
pionage. and even OF anonymous de-
nunciatious OF 4 nendacious character
based purely on spite.
The unpopularity OF this system and
the use nada thereof, WAS such, that
General Andre was eventually deprived
OF his portfolio by the Premier. and
driven into retirement, followed by the
eNercatio1s. not only of the entire
army, but also OF the public Al
though Faucie had been his principal
lieutenant and assistant in the matter,
yet he managed TO save himself from
the shipwreck of his chief and to hang
Oh until now. when he has been public
~ retired for gross military incom-
petence, and is now about TO be pun
ished for INSTRUMENTATION
General F'aurie repudiates the impu-
tation OF incompetency. and insists
that he is being prosecuted on account
OF his advanced republican opinions,
and also because OF his attitude to-
wards the church, asserting that the
general STAFF of the army. and indeed
the entire War Department are honey
combcd with Jesultism and monurchi-
cal intrigues, ascribing the leadership
thereof TO the deputy chief OF the gen
eral stan, namely, General the MARQUIS
dc Cdstelnau. He has appealed for AS
sistaEce to the extreme left OF the
Chamber OF Deputies, TO tho most nd
vanced organs OF the radical press. and
to the antireligious, antimilitary Gle
incnt generally, and his case Is bound
10 become tho subject OF much pro-
longed and acrimonious parliamentary
discussion.
IN response TO these allegations of
his. It is pointed out that the measures
adopted against Iauric were recon-
nended, not by General lie Castelnau,
but by the Supreme Council OF War.
the repubiicanism, tho impartialty and
tho military competency or which are
abov" all question.
General Faurics punishment is il
forcgone conclusion. Already retired
by ministerial decree his name will be
removed from the ranks Of TIE army,
diiu ITO viii cease 10 nave the right
either tic style himself general or 10
wear the uniform OF his present rank
The last instance in which general
or the French army WAS subjected To
this penalty. was that OF General
Houianscr. who subsequently COM
United suicide ut Brussels
Of course, all this affair which has
created no end OF q stir In France, and
indeed. In military circles all over
1. - 4.
ing attention to General Joffrc, chiof
OF the general staff, and who as such.
in the event OF war, would bc invested,
by virtue OF iis office. with supreme
military command. lie is very highly
thought OF. both at Berlin and ut ST
PETERSBURG. halls from the Pyrennccs.
commanded n battery OF artillery dur
ms tie Siege OF Paris. although only
eighteen at the time, and hut recently
commissioned az second lieutenant.
Among tho features OF his career. were
his capture for France OF the mysteri.
Gus Central African city OF Timbuctoo.
tho military organization OF tho Ia
lahd or Madagascar. after its conquest,
and numerous successful campaigns In
the wars OF ndo-China. IIo is known
as one Of tho best mathcinat icians I'm
the army, rs a man OF much construc-
two force. absolutely rigid will and
of great rcticenco.
There Is only ono subject on which
no ever allows himself 10 become clo-
qucnt. namely, the necessity OF assum-
ing the offensive. instead OF waiting to
be attacked. These. he declares to be
the only tactics which should be en-
ployoi with French troops No ono
enjoys greater amount Of confidence
on the part OF tho rank and dlo who
describe hiri o IAN excellent watch
dos: calm, but always ready TO bite"
SO numerous have bacn tho automo-
bile accidents OF late. resulting from
tho presence at tho wheel OF women.
who ara APP to lose their head IN Il
moment or sudden emergency, that
pODular Scntimrpt Ia bcconIp,~ ayarsn