South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-25

BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE, Via London. March 25.-lt
was in the drawing room of the resi-
dence which he makes his Office that
Sir John French commander OF the
British expeditionary forces in France
received me today. On the long table
before the British field marshal were
"a number OF maps and reports. other
wise the commander who directs the
British aTmy's operations in France
is disassociated from the details of
the different departments situated in
the other offices about the town,
whose heads report to him Immediate
Is upon a telephoned request.
Looking younger than his photos
make him appear. ruddy of face and
alert of manner. he showed no trace
of the strain OF the past eight months
as he stood before the open fire and
talked OF his Campaign and the war.
Tcnacity Marked Retreat.
What were the most important
factors making Your retreat from
Mons secure against overwhelming
odds2" he was asked.
"The dogged tenacity OF our little
regular army which contested every
foot OF the ground as we fell back
replied the field marshal Not once
did our soldiers lose heart. They un-
derstood that we were net defeated,
hut were making a strategic retreat
before heavy odds and ali the punish
ment which they could intlict on the
enemy by cool and stubborn resistance
from point to point was no less valu-
able to the ultimate object than If
they we're advancing. Their confidence
that their turn would come 10 take
the offensive was uOt shaken. our
cavalry established a decided super
iOrity over the enemy's which was of
vital impoI tance.'
And what was the most critical
moment OF all your campaign in
France to YOU" ! asked.
One would not have been surprised
IL he had said that it was when his
reserves were practically exhausted on
the Ypres- -Armentiers battles to save
the English channel ports His ans
wer had characterize prOmptness and
decisiveness He said:
"On the retreat from Mons at
Lecateau We were i'm open country
in q very dangerous position and Ger
man ambition for the annihilatiOn of
our little army might have been real
lzed If il had not been fully equal to
she task cf overcoming the tlanks of
our ste90y. diSciplined regulars"
Knows American Campaigns.
Few Americans are probably as
familiar with the campaigns Of our
own CIVILIAN war as Sir John. for he
has made a thorough study of them
and has drawn from them lessons
which he has found helpful in France
In particular ne mentioned stone
Nvall' Jackson 10 me. saying
O. 'Stonewar Jackson was more like
Cromwell than any other leader in
history. He was an heroic martial
figure whose wonderful career
came TO "a happy close such as sol
dier might desire in an hour of VIC
tory. 7 have followed all his marches
and battle with unnagging admira-
ton. lie had the religious exaltation
~ Cromwell-his dash. determination
and ready strategy. He had the gem
ius OF inspiring his troops with his
own indomitahle spirit of energy But
of all your commanders Robert T.. Lee
in his patience, his resource. his poisc
his soundness of judgment and his
possession OF the qualities OF high
command in al emergencies is fore
most in Hy opinion.
As "A soldier speaking OF his enemy
Sir John was far from depreCi8tIng
the lighting qualities of the Germans
10 whom he paid soldiers chivalrous
tribute.
Germans Well Trained.
But" he said. "they are no hraVer
than the other soldiers in this war.
attribute their value and their well
disciplined cohesion 10 the fact that
from the cradle they are taught dis
Cipline and 10 Worship their kaiser
and fatherland and that Is their duty
10 die for the fatherland when their
kaiser commands"
And the result OF the war L
queried. This too. proved a happy
question and was answered very
promptly.
There is no doubt Of it," said the
reld marshal his tones carrying evil
denCe OF his OWL strong conviction
4 was never so confident OF victory
~ now. am as confident as Grant
when he tool command or the army
II the Potomac. lie kept at it and
20 shall We"