New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-09
GENERAL JOFFRE BEST TYPE
OF THE SCIENTIFIC SOLDIER
A Study of the French Commander in Chief and His
Methods Made by the Bordeaux Correspondent
Of THE London Times.
.l..- H.. 1oa4o- Tine. O.: oa.... o..

Some one declared that Joifro Is q.
the school Of Napoleon. II IS a gen
oYalization no more accurate than
other cancellations Nothing could
be further from the wars of Napoleon
than the great battles on the Marne
on the Aisne, and now in the North
In themselves they do not present any
thing like the tactical interest OF those
examples Of military skill of hun
dred years ago. And the aeropianc Is
responsible. II sees everything from
its elevated vantage point; from II
nothing is hidden. Il looks behind the
screen Of cayalry masking the enemy 3
front; Il aee5 troops Oh the march or
being carried Ia trains; II notes the
number VI army corps, the proportion
OF the different arms and all the dc
tails OF vast machine.
Thus the art or war has been robbed
OF that element Of surprise which al
forded Napoleon dramatic opportunity
Tor the display OF his genius: His OBJ
ject was 20 discover the weak spot III
the enemy's lines, and, having dis
covered II, 20 hurl upon u all the
FORCES at his command. His success
depended upon the speed and sureness
With which the great blow could be
struck. 4 premature revelation woulc
have spoiled all. But coup Ct he
sort j. no longer possible, for ma
neuvre on the ono side j. met instant
Is By mauuuyre on the other. War
now consists Ia a series OF parallel
movement; i,5 art has changed. 1t
would b. scarcely an e%aggcration 10
SAY that II does not c&l-t. Tie l"o
armies turn about each other lthe
bo.ers in the preliminary phases o. {
tight. They pivot clumslly ~ eaten
each other 1t disadvantage, and that
i practically AL the art o. j..
The rest - u ding.d0ng battle OF re-
sistauce, Oh marching and counter
marching. Anything less like Ngpo-
Icons way OF making war II would be
difficult 20 imagine. Il Is like playing
bridge with Your opponent looking over
youc shoulder. He knows when you
are tnessing and when you are PLAYING
for an opening. III those conditions,
how is it possible TO gain brilliant
victory oy great crushing blows, having
calculated the psychological moment ?
Ih.s is as FAR from present realities
O. NapOleou'5 csnter on LIS white horse
along the line on the eve OF battle on
4. visi. 70 the outpost. You could not
imagine JoiYrc canterlug from DuLk.rk
- Beltor- before breakfast az the mo-
hent OF beginning the battle which
lasts weeks and not merely single
dag.
Thu all tie conditions OF warfare
have changed, aud with them the mem
tality and methods OF commanders.
.jotfre il rarely seen on horse back, but
b. has much the figure Of the Corsicap
shor. and stout, and giving TIC I'M
preston vi power. lie spends q part
os each day in long, low, rapid motor
car visiting the lines. il Is Impossible
10 visit all the poiLts-m must be
lett to the corps commanders after the
general plan is settled; this robs u
generslissimo OF personal contact with
his troops; he is more OF less unknown
TO them, and Joffre probably has 70
show papers 10 his seutries. He wear
out two chauifeurs day IL his rush
from point 10 point.
But beyond that Joffrc must hold the
wires IN this tremendous system. You
have 10 imagine him PASSING long
hours n an TnprctentioIs room with "a
receiver 20 hi ear. Ills assistant gen
erals bend over maps and examine At.
tcntlyely the lay OF the country; but
Jofge has TO need OF that: rivers
noun tains, valleys are engraved deeply
in his brain. His chief characteristic
Is cslnness. He il - calm IN war s.
IN peace. And that quality has bred
confidence. lie has confidence IL him