The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-31
MANNING, c., WEDNESDAY. MARCH 1916
GIVES HIGH PRAISE
ENGLISH FIELD MARSHAL KNOWS
CAMPAIGNS OF JACKSON
SAYS LEE IS FOREMOST

| SAYS Lee IS FOREMOST
Sir John French Talks About Allies
Confidence and the Retreat From
Mons, Incidentally Giving South
Red and Blue Ribbons for Military
Leaders Of America.
Frederick Palmer, who is at the
front in France for the Associated
Press, sends the following dispatch:
British headquarters in France
March 25, via London, 1881 p. M
It was in the drawing room OF the
house in which he makes his Office
that Field Marshal Sir John French
received the correspondents to-day
and discussed the military situation.
Before the conversation was over, the
British commander, answering a
question concerning the result OF the
war. said:
"'Indeed, there is no doubt Of the
| outcome. I was never so confident OF
! victory as I am to-day
ION a long table before the British
commander were a number of maps
and reports. Otherwise, the man ap-
peared completely dissociated from
the details from the different armies
situated in the other Offices about the
town. It was to be observed. how
ever, that the heads Of these depart
ments report to Field Marshal French
Immediately upon a telephone re-
quest.
Looking younger than his photo
graphs make him appear, ready and
alert, Sir John showed no signs OF
the strain OF the last eight months as
he stood before his open crate fire
| and talked OF mis- campaign.
what were the most important
contributing factors making your re-
treat from Mons secure against over
whelming o6ds?' Sir John was asked.
"'The dogged tenacity Of our little
regular army which contested every
foot Of the ground as we fell back,
was the answer. Not once did our
soldiers lose heart. They understood
that we were not defeated. but max
ing a strategic retreat before heavy
odds, and that all the punishment
which they could inf1ict on the enemy
by cool and stubborn resistance from
point to point was no less valuable to
the ultimate object than if they were
advancing. Their confidence that
their turn to take the offensive would
come remained unshaken. Next in
importance was the work OF our cav
airy in its aggressiveness and alert
ness in preventing the cavalry Of the
enemy from getting around US. Our
cavalry established a decided super
iority over that OF the enemy, which
was of vital assistance.
"'And what, to you, was the most
critical moment Of all your campaign
in France?' was the next question.
zone would not have been surpris-
ed if he had said when his reserves
practically were exhausted in the bat
tie of Ypres and Armentieres to save
the channel ports. His answer had
characteristic promptness and decis-
iveness: On the retreat from Mons,
at LeCateau. We we're in the open
country in very dangerous position,
and the German ambition for the an
Inhalation Of our little army might
have been realized if our cavalry had
not been equal to it's task Of covering
the Aanks of our steady, disciplined
regulars
"Few Americans probably are as
familiar with the campaigns Of the
American Civil War as is Sir John.
He has made a thorough study Of
them and from them he has drawn
lessons which he has found helpful in
France. He mentioned "Stonewall"
Jackson.
"'To me Gen. Jackson was more
like Cromwell than any other leader
of history said the British comman-
der. "A heroic, martial figure whose
wonderful career came to the happy
close a soldier desires in the hour OF
victory. I have followed all his
marches and battles with unfagging
admiration. He had the religious ex-
altation Of Cromwell, his dash and
determination and his ready strategy
and the genius of inspiring his troops
with his own indomitable spirit OF
energy.
"'But Of all your commanders,
Robert E. Lee, in his patience, his re-
source, his poise, Lis soundness OF
Judgment and his possession Of the
qualities of high command in all en-
ergencies, is foremost, in my opinion
"a good deal has been said about
the novel conditions which trench
warfare in this war has developed
was the next thing said by the cor
respondent, has it changed the quail
ties required Of a soldier?'
"'No,' he replied. Human nature
remains the same and it is the man
who gives and takes the blows, what
ever the nature of his weancns. Cour-
age. discipline and tenacity are still
the dominant elements Of success
"'And the guns-it has been re-
peatedly stated that this has become
a war of artillery
"T think there has been an incli-
nation to exaggerate the Importance
of artillery Sir John answered. No
doubt, Of the three arms, artillery
has increased in relative importance.
It may take dozen shells to get one
man and one bullet will get one man.
The weapons which decide the day
are the rife and the machine gun.
and the infantry still is the queen OF
battles
"Sir John was far from depreciat-
ing the fighting qualities Of the Ger
mans. Put they are no greater than
other soldiers he said. I attribute
their valor and their we'll disciplined
cohesion to the fact that from the
cradle they are taught discipline and
to worship their emDeror and the
fatherland, and that it is their duty
to die for the fatherland when their
emperor commands
GAS to the conduct Of the Ger
mans, is it as bad as represented?
Have they consistently broken the
rules Of civilized warfare?'