Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-05
Joffre-PersOnally
-Karrison reeves in EvsrybOay's

OFFRE resembles the late j. p. Morgan some
- what, in that he lie the kind OF monster
His head "a altogether too big for his body lis
nose IL very large and very ugly. His upper teeth
stick far his under lip 50 that his thin
mustaohe does not hide them. His shoulders are mar
and rounded upon his fiat chest His armf
very long and rather thin for fat man His
hands enormous and bony, like the hands of
long. skinny His belly is little ana pudgy. Hts
legs and feet those OF nl-deveoped. little fat
man.
He has a way Of squirting and grinning which is
very characteristic He stands badly, dresses rldcu
ousy, never rides horse any more, and walks about
like President Poincare
The soldierly part Of him Is his head. which Is
hard, tough calm and hdeous with the same sort Ut
interesting hideousness which the late Mr.. Morgan
had to such an extraordinary degree. The pretty
photographs which make him look like Mr.. Taft do
not resemble him BIT He is simply softer edition
Of Mr.. Morgan, with more kindness and humor and
with less conscious force initiative and pugnacity He
is perfectly French looking and strikes the French
officer natural development OF the type Of French
general Of plebeian origin The noble generals have
different look about Them superior stature. thinness
and sharpness with touch OF scorn in their facial
makeup.
His officers say that Of the three four say
ings attributed TO him by journalists since the opening
the really uttered by him. and that he has
sayings In him. He interview, to an
old school friend turned journalist. and was highly
amused because the cut Il all out OF the
pers.
He has never made any speeches He sat silent
through four months OF daily socialist discussions Of
three-years military service in the Chamber
Of Deputies He has written only a single brochure
on the expedition to T1mbuctoo-as literary baggage
for his entry 10 the Academy He does not write the
brilliant "orders Of the day" which generously at
tributed TO him by the censor. and 1t is said he
writes personal letters reads newspapers.
At work he Is systematic and keeps large clerical
force overworked But he is soft master regards
hours. insisting that all his subordnates shall sleep
long they stay abed, which he does himself.
His admirers say that he is incapable of worry or
OF the slightest degree OF excitement. He has never
shown any emotion about anything has never
been known TO be interested in anything outside his
immediate job.
His society never bores anybody, simply because
he uses up all his time in working fairly steadily and
fairly hard, sleeping lot. eating slowly and resting
after meals taking little walks for health and riding
about the country in his family automobile nspec.
ton trips He has the air of being quite tedous!y
the Job and Of making honest living for his
family as II he were little business
He fused along over the battle OF the Marine iust
the way he does about the routine details OF arm,
administration and slept lot every night. The onty
special recommendations which he has seen fit
to publish concerning the necessity Of town oae-
ers getting busy threshing the crops in the zone
and small matters about how to keep the up
He received batch of journalists in his school
house office the front one day. when the minister
insisted He sort of yawned at Them mumbled some
thing bana about Saving the country" and them
hustled out. The only map in the room black
and-whte OF Poland and the general appeared to
be in OF Strengthening out his cash accounts
Joffre's manner OF attacking the enemy suggests
that he has fancy idea back OF the attack. but
merely attacks 10 accomplish the purpose Of wher
is TO defeate tho enemy where you find him and to
impose your will him. whether It leads in any par
| ticular direction not.
Above ell, Joffre cares nothing for the political
direction OF his strategy. Supreme credit must be
given to him, in the early part of the war, for his
utter indifference to the rescue" OF Paris which the
government and the people naturally regarded the
cardinal point of the campaign Joffre let Paris take
care OF itself best It could while he fought his
enemy squarely on field till he beat him. He
full we'll that he didn't beat him Paris would fall In
three days without Siege and the name Of Joffre
would be anathema in over-centralized France till that
| little geographical point relieved.
But if Joffre had permitted himself to worry
| about Paris Klucks whole strategy over
whelmingy influenced him to do. he might have save
Paris but he would have saved il only to lose al
| France and then Paris. too
What was needed purely military steadines'
ana courage Joffre IL all purely military steadines
| and courage
Joffre ana General Cherflls were talking the Other
day about certain aristocratic general who hat
heaved sigh OF relief that God at last tn
Goa has somehow come TO distinguish between Franc,
and the government Of France"
Joffre is Of the people. not OF the government. Hit
father was a cooper and his mother tended the vine
on their little farm. Out Of such work they th'
competency which Joseph Jacques Joffre the In
| come for q military career.
|