Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-18
. THE TACITURN JOFFRE
Qualities of Him Who Is Hated as
New Napoleon.

Like William the Silent and Moltke,
who was silent in seven Languages"
General Joffre is notably taciturn, and
he has been silent through iaborious
military career of a years. He is now
81. but still in the full vigor Of his
strength of body and mind-and oy far
the most noteworthy figure which this
surprising war has so far disclosed
Clemenceau sharply criticised him and
the others OF the General staff, but he,
too has reversed his judgment since the
mobilization proved their foresight and
complete organization of the military re-
sources. little more and General Joffre
Will be the incarnation of the soul Of
France in her life-and-death struggle.
Jolfre vas a first-year military engi-
neer at the dicult Ecole Polytechnique,
and only l. years of age when hte war
of 1870 broke out He enlisted and fought
like the rest to the bitter end. He came
out lieutenant and was employed, when
peace followed, on the plans for the new
fortiications of Paris. Marshal Mac
Mahon who was himself not a taker
noticed his calm silence amid the ohter
officers ir a visit to one OF the forts,
and unexpectedly saluted him-"My COM
pliments, captain" So he was captain
at q, long before him time: and he was
sent to organize the defenses on Pontar-
her, just where the Germans, If they
break through at Belfort. may now sweep
down along the Swiss frontier. Then
he went out to build forts at Tonkin; but
Admiral Courbet, who was in charge,
to fighting a the head of the troops.
scented the born commander, and set him
He was kept fighting, next In Dahomey.
and he was the first to enter Timbuctoo-
l. gta
in Madagascar, where he fortified Diego
Suarez nightly. Back in France, he
was made professor at the Higher War
School, and became successfully gen
eral OF brigade, of division and of a
corps d'armee. He came to have the
confidence of all as a strategist and or
ganizer-and. with all the medical hos
tlity 10 the army, he was never re-
preached with reaction or not being faith
ful to the republic. When the nomina-
ton of general-in-chef had TO be made
by the Higher War Council General
Pau. who last his arm at Sedan, pointed
with his remaining hand to Joffre-and
the nomination was unanimous says the
New York Evening Post
The public knows little of persons. but
1t knew that the law of three years COM
pulsory service, which has saved France
was due largely TO General Ioffre's fore
sight. And these three weeks of his com
mand have made confidence in him uni
versal. Time will tell how far his silence
will lead TO victory; but, until nov, no
newspaper correspondent even knows
where General-in-Chief Joffre and his
headquarters were placed yesterday or
today, or shall be tomorrow. "Jofrre's
Headquarters" said a military man who
may have known and may not; Its a
monastery
The Pope who has Just died would have
liked that figure of speech, for ne more
than once expressed his opinion that even
his monks talked too much. Perhaps this
all but universarl war will drift suffering
humanity towards a new era where si-
lence shan he appreciated as strength
And this time, let il be noted while il
lasts, the silent man is the Frenchman.