The chronicle=news., 1914-09-18
(By Robert Easton.

SlT JOHn FTeuSn, COUluaHueT-ln-
chief of the British expeditionary
force fighting in France against the
Germans. Londoners have almost
forgotten that only u few short
weeks ago-it now seems ages
French resigned from the army be-
cause the difference between the
government and certain distinguish
led officers over the question Of us
ing British troops to put down the
threatened uprising in Ulster. French
sided with the officers.
In those days which now appear
as dim as ancient history, the Irish
home rule question was all-absorb-
ing. The British press devoted al
most as much space to the now for
gotten muddle as today they give to
the European war. The resignation
OF Sir John French created a sensa-
ltion.
Prime Minister Asquith, in the
house OF commons. voiced profound
regret that the splendid career of
so distinguished soldier should
have come to premature close. The
prime minister, though, added the
now seemingly prophetic words that
he still regarded the special abilities
to Sir John, French as future as
set of the nation in the event o
war. f-
Asquith spoke truer perhaps than
he knew. Within six weeks. French
was again summoned into the mill
|tary councils of the nation in which
lfor some time he had been the head.
with the title of inspector general.
His resignation was forgotten and a
flew days later the world learned that
la British force was on the continent
to aid the French against the le-
gions of the kaiser and that Sir John
French was ut its head as command
ler-in-chief.
| The chief physical characteristic
Iof Sir John French is stubbiness. for
he Is stubby In figure. wears a
stubby mustache, almost always is
Ichewing on a stubby cigar and has
the capacity for tremendous physi-
lcal eXertion over long stretches that
only the stubby can endure.
He Is restless and swift NOV
ing man whose duties on the battle
Held have SO far been confined to
carrying out with surprising vigor
at the pace his fine cavalry set. the
orders of others who have entrusted
to him one part of combined move
ment,. In these, last few days of the
WAR. French Is called upon to per.
form an almost identical function as
the troops. of which he is in supreme
command. are but one part of the
most stupendous combined movement
that has ever been conceived upon a
field of battle.
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 unbroken line OF his
successes. So far az recorded. he
has never been defeated. Today he
is in the most difficult position he
has ever known. Not merely because
OF the inherent fatality to the pride
and integrity OF the French nation
lie is supporting.
| When II was In Indian or in the
Soudan. 1t was his cavalry advances
that enabled the combined forces to
move forward to success. In South
Africa. whore he relieved Kimberly
from prolonged siege that had al
most destroyed 1t: where his flank
ing movement enabled Lord Robert
to capture Bloemfontein and no
hannesburg within four and five
1 - I,s =
at the cape, French's whole expert
encc was made up on advances and
attacks.
| Again and again he had the SOL
dier's reward of being mentioned in
dispatches. The nation came to
look upon him above all the military
figures in that campaign. as the
leader OF advances and attacks. But
the last few years he has been es-
pecially 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 over the Ulster con-
troversy, French has been chief of
the imperial general staff. which is
the title OF the first military mem
Der OF the general staff Of the army
which controls not merely the home
forces. but also the disposition and
direction OF all the military resources
within the imperial dominions.
He has. therefore. held the chief
military place in the general army
council. which came into being un-
der the direction of Lord HaIdane
who remodelcd the British army
from 1907 up to now along the lines
of the German military organization.
He was made field marshal .ass