The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-16

Sir John French mas been British
soldier hero since February, 1900, when
h. led force Of cavalry across a water
less tract I'm South Africa to the relief
~ kimberey--an operation which saved
the British armies an enormous military
embarrassment ana proved 10 he the
turning point in the Boer War.
From the conclusion OF that episode
he rose h. leaps and bounds to the
highest rank IN the British army, that
OF q Field Marshal When the European
war began there were but two names
In the minds OF the British public
Kitchener and French Kitchener went
to the War Office In supreme command
OF pretty nearly everything connected
with the war: French went to Flanders
with handful OF British soldiers to
help stem the tide OF the German in
vasior.
Scarcely anything outside of the with
drawal from office OF Earl Kitchener
hfnseif could have been greater sem
sation In the British conduct of the war
than the gushing OF Field Marshal Sir
John French, but IL has been no secret
that the British Government believes
better things could have been done with
the British forces In Flanders.
Almost from the moment Sir John ar
rived in Flanders ho has been the butt
Of political attack in England and to
some extent in France. II may be said
to his benefit however. that he was be-
set by grave difficulties. Scarcely had
the altogether inadequate force OF Brit
ish troops come abreast Of the Germans
on line running roughly from Conde,
on the west through Mons and Blanche
on the east, when retreat was unavoid-
able.
Retreat From NOus.
These operations are known to-day as
the British retreat from Mons. When
ever 1t is mentioned Sir John French il
mentioned with IT, At first Englishmen
spoke Of the "masterly retreat made by
French from Mons" then they spoke OF
the retreat from Mons
There II good authority, however, for
the statement that the retreat was q
piece OF military strategy. The British
forces suffered heavily. but Hike the
French forces they were kept intact until
the battle of the Marine. when they were
able to turn the German invaders and
drive them back to the present front
The attacks upon Sir John French did
not become serious until the British
offensive at Nerve Chapelle last spring.
In that operation the British threw all
OF their Strength and gained practically
nothing. But their losses were enor-
nous. II IL not known whether Sir John
French was responsible for the attack or
not. In any event ne received the entire
blame. His political enemies made the
most OF II and for time the English
newspapers were Allied with criticism Of
him.
A. the smoke Of that episode cleared
away 1t became apparent In many ways
that n breach had occurred between tho
British Secretary for War. Earl Kitch-
ener and the British commander on tho
Continent Little was said about II in
the public prints. AZ matter of fact
Its real beginning is not known. There
10 no doubt. however. that q serious
clash occurred between the two men and
there is every reason to believe that Sir
John Frenchs retiremen. AZ this time IL
the elimination Of that difference.
Last June Premier Asauith visited Sir
John French at headquarters In France
and It was generally understood that
his mission was the mending OF diffi-
culties between the Field Marshal and
the Secretary for War. Sir John French
Continued on 4scoxd Paee.