New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-20

nh Jofrc commander IN chlei o. the rEehch
s.,,.s The French anxious to emphasize III
,A.;r national hero his most warlike attribute,
ali him JoFre le Taciturne (Jofre the Silent..
9ossbly his habit Of silence has something to
A. with the lack OF knowledge concerning hir'
ou,siSe Of France. In France they knew enough
,Sout him two years ago TO make him general IL
,bi.f BY unanimous vote Of the Higher War Coun-
II. But over here in America his was mere
name If even that before the war, and now the
s,ta concerning him arc still all to meagre. II is
ssnh his genius or whatever il is that has enabled
Inn to defeat the Kaiser's famous war machine,
lad been kept by the French surprise 70"
tAeir enemies. much as the Germans seem to have
Kept as a surprise that wonderful gray-green
.sOr of their uniforms How much more familiar
q rs for example, is the figure of Won Moltkc
se Kasers chief Of staff. or Of Sir John Frenca
the British Field Marshall
STRIKING SIMILARITY SEEN BETWEEN
GEN JOFFRE AND COL. COCKTAILS.
Il NAV perhaps help us to a better appreciation
Of General JofTre as a man and officer if we bear
in mind the many characteristics which he seems
10 possess 20 common with of our own ma
bOnal heroes. Colonel Cocktails the builder Of
the Panama Canal To begin with, both OF them
the worlds grestest peace victor, we'll as tho
worlds greatest war victor Ito date), are mills
sry engineers. educated and trained such.
Colonel Coethals looks bit more like soldier,
to be sure. but both possess large fund Of
human sympathies that they have been able to
tpdeAr themselves personally 70 great bodies Of
men the builder Of the Panama Canal to the
vast army Of Yorsmen o. all nationalities en-
ployed in digging the big ditch, tho commander
- Chief Of he French army 10 the. millions Of
Il p, L., a.
bis country Patience. importantly Rrfnness and
clear understanding cf human nature, coupled
IN each case with rare siagleness of purpose
and the ability to keep ;he- own counsel-thesc
are tie 'hooks ~ s;ee,' with which these two men
nave bound their organizations 20 themselves.
Then, Of course. each. being splendid enginee~.
has the qualities or the first rate mathematician
Imagination, uresrng caculation-and, resting
OF these as on o firm foundation, great moral
courage. It is Unnecessary 70 expatiate on the
part these qualities must have played in the ac-
eOmplishnent Of the great task the isthmus.
IN the appalling military campaign still in prog
ress IN the heart Of France their display is no
less noticeable. Imagine for moment the press
ure which General Joffre had 20 withstand not 10
risk his armies in a fight to the finish before The
German hos, INVADED French territory; how strong
must have been his belief in his own figures to
order retreat after retreat while the hated Prus-
slams trampie3 his beloved country under foot all
The way from the Belgian frontier to the outer
Fertilization Of Paris. He did not even waver in
Bis purpose when !, became necessary to send the
French govegUmen; from Paris to Bordeaux fOr
greater safety. In fact, that may be considered
one Of his sHrcwdcst moves. forcing the politicians
70 take refuge Gar from the Of operations
and 10 leave aim ~ supreme control OF the situs-
ton, actr-i'y as veil IS theoretically.
SUCCESS CROWNS HIS CALCULATIONS AND
INDICATES HIS STRATEGY.
How handsomely his strategy has succeeded 's
now the marvel Of all. The Germans, rushing on
Ike tidal bore in the Bay Of Fu1dy, swept Their
enemies into a semi-circular barrier in the Valley
Of the Name. But there, stronger than ever
rom constant accumulation. .he latter stacked
up against the men: tide, and the tide ebbed. Il
had to, as General Jofro undoubtedly knew II
must long before l. ever started on its devastNt'
ing course suppose, instead Of the sublime pa
tienee which has distinguished his tactics, he had
displayed TIA. theatrical defiance which 'ne
French ar, thought to love and had anchored
his partially modified forces midway OF ne
eurush, oay TO be overwhelmed and snnihiiated;
then the tide would have found no barrier other
Than the forts o" Paris, and these it could nave
eSten away at its leisure. They called nm
Kuropatkin" while the Germans were advancing
but now he is "Tsbius he temporisateur'' alter
ne od Roman general who led Hannba! chase
until he wore him out and saved RoL:e.
There is no intention here of detraeting Tor
minute from the Importance of Field Marshal SIr
'onn Frenchs part in bringing about this result
'syOr-bc to the Allies. But with an army only
small fraction # the size Of General Jofrcs
s'nHsnd il .ell to his lot to accept the lattcr's
pans and to cooperate with all the enthusiasm
a'en proper appreciation of their value would
aspire There is every indication that he has
eue 'hlS very thing admirably; that, ir fact, ne
Sua be the first to indcrse the praise which
esai Jofre is receiving even from his coun-
gallant enemies Gabriel Hanotaux, former
Minister OF Foreign Affairs and men,
y, the French Academy, in an article in "Le
sH0' has paid special tribute to the deli
,,,., manner in which General French has recog-
-, uehera Joffre's strategic conceptions. Cen
on. ate himself, in a telegram to Lord Kitch-
P,n = mat he was expressing his gratitude to
sa %sFshs French, "who has always lent 70
sS The most effective collaboration"
\ se,. 'oire is sixty-two years old--four
so,s "soger than his opposing strategist, Won
ne ne attended college at Perpignan, gain
n.n,,. uss'ee Of bachelor of science with speciai
4 s,,.s's when he was only sixteen years old. He
~, nen the difficult Ecole PolytechniouSe as
military engineer, but the next year,