The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-29
jParis Correspondence
WOrld.}

Q military genius VINO has no diupiIloA
to become a military dictator.
This is an anomaly in the country's
history, but Gen. Joffre is an anomaly
in many respects. He now Is the most |
interesting personality in France the
absolute ruler Of its inhabitants.
Military law has superseded civil
law and q state Of siege has been pro-
claimed throughout the land. 1et
this autocrat, who holds his country's
salvation or destruction i'll the hollow
OF his hand, is Il simple. kindly. nom
est gentleman, who shuns publicity,
popularity or riches. giving his life
and talents in the supreme hour or
need. If he lacks the glamour OF Ma
poleOn or Bismarck his countrymen
have invested him with a rare meas
ure OF confidence and affection.
Joffre has assured France that she
will emerge victorious from the Strus-
gle, and this assurance Is one or the
chief underlying causes OF the re-
markable calm and self-reliance that
Is the distinguishing feature OF the
French In the greatest crisis or their
history.
His Part I'm the 1870 Siege OF Paris
Joseph Joffre-he has but one
Christian name--is in his sixty-third
year, having been born on Jan. II,
1852, in the little town of Rivesaltes,
in the Department OF the Eastern ~
renees, close to the Spanish frontier.
His father belonged to the police
force and served some years as a gen.
darme. The boy distinguished him.
self at school and showed a passion
for mathematics which led his teach
er to predict q great university career
TOR him.
When the war OF 1870 began young
Joffre was a pupil in the polytechnic
school,, and his career was already
fixed rs a military one. Their just
eighteen years old, he assisted at the
operations Of the siege of Paris in the
capacity of Sub-Lieutenant. His ma
shematical genius had adapted itself
to military tactics. and his chiefs soon
recognized his special field OF action,
the Engineers Department.
In 1872 he was promoted to his
Heutenancy and told off to follow the
practical course of artillery and en-
gineering at Fontainebleau.
In 1874 he passed into the First
Regiment of Engineers and in 1876 he
was nominated Captain, attached to
the Third Company Of Military Rail
way Works. devoting himself chiefly
to the defenseS of Paris
In 1884 he became Chief OF the En-
gineers at Mont-Louis, close to his n
tive home.
The year 1885 witnessed Joffre en-
barking for the Far East, and his first
military decoration, the Legion Of
Honor. was conferred upon him II
camp at Formosa. He was Admira,
Courbet's right-hand man during the
operations of the French squadron
In 1886 he organized the defenSeS O.
Upper Tonking and afterward wa.
sent to the Soudan to direct the worl
of cutting a o from Hayes to tn
Niger.
1t was in this post that Joffre re
ceived orders in 1894 to carry aid t,
the remnant Of the BONNER column
massacred near the confines Of Tim
buctoo. He was the first man to en-
ter the town and proclaimed Their
French supremacy.
Joffre was now advanced to a Col
onelcy and in 1897 he was sent t
Madagascar to organize the defense
OF D~iego-Suraez.
In 1902 ne was again promoted wit
the title of Brigadier General. and be
came director of the Engineers De
partment at the War Ministry.
In 1905 he was appointed CommaI
der of the Sixth Division at Paris.
Being transferred later to AmieI
as Commander of the Second Arm
Corps, he succeeded to the post {
Commander General with one Of til
highest military orders the Govern
ment has at it's bestowaL, that
Grand Officer of the Legion Of Homo
He has since obtained the highest
namely, the Grand Cross and the IN,
daille militaire.
Great Commanders Private Life.
What sort Of man is Gen. Joffre
his private life? BY cor.mon consel
the French press has limited itse
solely to describing his public caree
and the censor has ever gone so Il
as to suppress newspaper efforts
bring the public into touch with Il
more intimate details Of his life.
First, as to appearance. JOffre
personality is known through pictu
postcards and illustrated papers, b
none Of his portraits does him justit
He is one of those who take bad
His strong point-presence-cann
be adequately conveyed by the cal
era Simplicity and straightforward
ness Of manne are what strike O
most when meeting him for the fl
time.
Picture a man sOmewhat>above
aIaraGa hoiUhf-ho u&aAA- axa q