The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-25
Field Marshal Discusses
Military Situation
With A sSocia t e d
Press Correspondent
AS CONFIDENT AS
GENERAL GRANT
To Keep Up Fight Same as Commander
of Army Of Potomac-Pays Trib-
ute to Valor of Confederate Gen
erals Jackson and Lee
Frederick Palmer, who is at the
front in France for the Associated
Press, sends the following dispatch:

Press, sends the Following d1Spatcn:
British Headquarters in France,
March 25, Via London, 1871 P. NJ
1t was in the drawing room of the
house in which he makes his Office that
Field. Marshal Sir John French, COM
mander-in-chief of the British expedi-
tionary forces on the continent, re-
eeived the correspondence to-day and
discussed the military situation before
the conversation was over the British
commander was answering questions
concerning the result of the war said:
"Indeed there is no doubt of the
outcome. l was never so confident of
victory as 1 am to-day. 1 am as con-
fdent as General Grant was when he
took command of the army of the Po-
tomac. He kept at it and so shall
we.
Shows No Signs of Strain
On long table before the British
commander were number of maps and
reports. Otherwise the man who directs
the operations of the British army in
France appeared completely disassoci-
ated from the details of the different
army departments situated in other Of
fee about the town. 1t was to the OBJ
served, however, that the heads of
these departments report to Field Mar
shal French Immediately upon a tele-
phone request.
Looking younger than his photo
graphs make him appear, ready and
alert Sir John showed no signs of the
strain of the last months as he stood
before his open CRATE fire and talked
of his campaign and the war.
Explains Retreat From Mons
"Nhat were the most important con-
tributing factors making your retreat
from Mons secure against overwhelm-
ing odds7" Sir John was a&ed.
''The dogged tenacity of our little
regular army which contested every
foot of the ground as we fell back. I"
was the answer. "Not once did our
soldiers lose heart. They understood
that we were not defeated, but making
a strategic retreat before heavy odds
and that all the punishment which they
could infiict on the enemy by cool
and stubborn resistance from point to
point was no less valuable to the ulti.
mate object than if they were advanc-
ing. Their confidence that their turn
to take the offensive would come re
mained unshaken. Next in Importance
was the work of our cavalry in its ag
gressiveness and alertness in prevent
ing the cavalry of the enemy from get
ting around us. Our cavalry established
decided superiority over that of the
enemy, which was of vital assistance.
Most Critical Moment of Campaign
And what to you was the most crit.
ical moment of all your campaign in
France?' was the next question put to
Sir John French One would not have
been surprised if he had said when his
reserves were practically exhausted in
the battle of Ypres and Armentieres to
save the channel ports. His answer
had characteristic promptness and de.
cisiveness.
'On the retreat from Mons at LIE
Cateau We were in the open coun-
try in very dangerous position, and
the German ambition for the annihila-
tion of our little army might have been
realized If our cavalry had not been
equal to its task of covering the fanks
of our steady, disciplined regulars. -
Familiar With U. S. Civil War
Few Americans probably are as ia.
miliar with the campaigns of our Civil
war as is Sir John. He has made
thnTnunh pf hay,
he has drawn lessons which he has
found helpful in France. He men,
toned Stohewali Jackson. "To me
General Jackson was more like Crom.
well than any other leader of history -
said the British commander. GA he.
roic, martial figure, whose wonderful
career came to the happy close sol.
dier desires in the hour of victory. II
have followed all his marches and bat.
ties with unfagging admiration. He
had the religious exaltation of Crom.
well, his dash and determination, and
his ready strategy and the genius of
inspiring his troops with his own in.
dominant elements of success
Lee a Great Commander
= But of all your commanders, Rob
ert Il. Lee, in his PATIENCE, his re.
source, his poise, his soundness of iudg.
ment and his possession of the qualities
OF high command in all emergencies, is
foremost, in my opinion -
a good deal has been said about
the novel conditions which trench war.
fare in this war ias developed, was
the next thing said by the correspond.
ent "Has it changed the qualities re.
qllired of soldier -,
NO" he said. "Human nature
remains the same, and it is the man who
gives and takes the blows, whatever
the nature of his weapons. Courage. |
discipline and tenacity are still ihe
domitable spirit of energy.
And the gunss 1t has been repeat |
edly stated that this has become a war
of artillery
Tribute to Kaiser's Soldiers
~ think there has been an inclina.
.tion to exaggerate the Importance of
artillery Sir John answered. "No
doubt, of the three arms, artillery has
increased in relative Importance. 1t
may take dozen shells to get one man
and one bullet will get one man. The
weapons which decide the day are the
rifie and the machine gun, and the in
fantry Is still the queen of battles"
AS a soldier speaking of his enemy, !