The Washington herald., 1914-09-13
FRENCH fulfill
ASQUITH'S WORDS
Premiers Remark in Resig-
nation of Field Marshal in
Ulster Crisis Recalled.
"STILL NATIONS ASSET"
British Generals Mastery Retreat. by
Which He Saved France. His First
Experience in Falling Back.

London. Sept. I2.-AH England today is
cheering for Field Marshal Sir John P.
D. French, commander-in-chief of the
British expeditionary force. fighting in
Franco Londoners have almost forgot
ten that only a few short weeks ago
French resigned from the army because
of the difference between the government
and certain distinguished officers over
the question Of using British troops to
Put down the threatened uprising in
Ulster. French sides with the officers
In those days which now appear as
dim as ancient history, the Irish home
rule question was all absorbing. The
British press devoted almost as much
space to it as today they give TO the
European war. The resignation of Sir
John French created a sensation.
Prime Minister Asquithr in the House
Of Commons. voiced profound regret that
the splendid career of so distinguished a
soldier should have come to a premature
close. The prime minister. though added
the now seemingly prophetic words that
he still regarded the special abilities to
Sir John French as a future asset of
the nation in the event of war.
PremIer's Prophecy FuIhIIed.
Asquith spoke truer. perhaps, than he
knew. Within six weeks French was
again summoned into the military coun-
ellis of the nation in which for some
time he had been the head, with the title
Of inspector general His resignation
was forgotten and a few days later the
world learned that a British force was
on the Continent to aid the French
against the leEions of the Kaiser and
that Sir John French was commander-ln-
chief
The chief physical characteristic of Sir
John French in stubbiness, for he is
stubby in figure. wears a stubby mus
tache, almost always is chewing on
stuoby cigar. He is restless and swift
moving man, whose duties on the battle
field have so far been confined to carry
ing out with surprising Vigor, at the pace
his fine cavalry set, the orders of others,
who have intrusted to him one part of
combined movement. In these last few
days of the war, French is called upon
to perform an almost identical function
as the troops of which he is in supreme
command, are but one part of the most
stupendous combined movement of troops
that has ever been conceived.
Like all great leaders, French has won
the entire confidence of his men. They
trust him absolutely. The only peril yet
seen in his spectacular career is the IN
broken line of his successes So far as
recorded he has never been defeated.
Today he is in the most difficult position
he has ever known. His recent mastery
retreat all the way from Belgium almost
to the gates of Paris-by which he saved
the French left and thereby the whole
French army, was his first experience of
falling back.
When il was in India or in the Sudan |
it was his cavalry advances that enabled
the combined forces to move forward TO
success. In South Africa, where he re-
lisved Kimberly from a prolonged siege
that had almost destroyed it, where his
rapid flanking movements enabled Lord
Roberts to capture Bloemfontein and
johannesburg within four and five
months, respectively; OF his arrival at
the Cape, French's whole experience
were made up of advances and attacks.
Again and again he had the soldiers re-
ward of being mentioned in dispatches.
The nation came to look upon him above
all the officers who figured in that cam
paign, as the leader of advances and at
tacks The last few years he has been
especially prepared for his present task.
From 1907 TO 1911 he held the position OF
inspector general of the home forces,
which brought him into direct touch
with all branches of the service. For
the last three years, with the exception
Of the short time he was out Of the
army because of his resignation in the
Ulster controversy. French has been
chief of the Imperial General STAFF which
is the title of the first military member
Of the general stan Of the army, which
controls not merely the home forces, but
also the disposition and direction of all
the military resources within the impe-
rial dOminions.
He has therefore, held the chief mill
tary place in the general army council
which came into being under the direc-
ton Of Lord Haldane, who remodeled
the British army from 1907 up to now
along the lines of the German military
organization. He was made a field mar
shall last year.
French is under no decisions as to the
formula BILE force with which he is in con-
flict Brilliant and daring as he is, he
will attempt no movement OF offense in
which calm elaboration would not sup
port his expectation Of success. Already
in this vast war he has earned high
praise from the French and British gov
ernments.