New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-20

is one of the most astounding develop
ments of this war. OF course, IL oe,
mands great wear on the guns anu
prodigious expenditure OF ammunition,
/ hut in both these respects the supply
for the French artillery is prac'icaiiy
! unlimited.
Germans Sparing Ammunition.
T noticed that the Germans have be-
emma very sparing in the use OF their
ouns and of their projectiles, the lat
/ fer being of a quality inferior TO those
/ tbev used at the outset Of the war with
/ such frenzied extravaganza. has the
! German artillery sufficient reserve
/ stocks Of guns and ammunition 70 Gre
ate. at a moments alarm, these lmpehe-
trable iron curtains OF proJectlles 70
/ check a general attack The ultimate
result of the operations depends IN a
vital degree on the answer TO this
question.
Shirt of French Troops Superb.
After mingling freely with soldiers
4 and officers Of every grade on and near
the fighting lines during these three
DAYS of bright April sunshine, | be,
/ came most profoundly impressed ana
/ fairly electrified with the superb
morale, with the spirit OF true ira
ternity. with the firm yet unobtruslvee'
| patriarchal discipline that inspires all
/ ranks Of these fighting men who nave
created and are defending the france
Of the twentieth century renaissance
NapoleOn said that every French SOL
der carried in his knapsack a mar
shaPs baton. To-day every pollu, 10
use the popular term applied 10 the
French Tommy Atkins, bears IN ms
heart the moral gertrude OF tnal VIC
tory.
Like Soldiers of Washington.
we'll rem cmber the depressed, sad
anxious expressions OF the french SOL
diers during the latter months OF the
war of 1S70-'71. | saw them later re-
turning from Tonkn and From the
campaigns in Africa, and recently /
accompanied the headquarters stan
during the autumn maneuvres. but
the French national soldier to-day is
totally different human being. lie mas
a sort Of Oliver Cromwell earnestness
and faith, and that patriotic conscious.
ness of lighting for the principles OF
our own Declaration of independence
that mus. have imbued the soldiers OF
George Washington.
Wearing his loose, comfortable, no,
rizon blue trousers, tunlc, overcoat and
/ cap and loaded up with sacks OF COOK
ing utensils, intrenching tools ana
rifle ammunition and burrowing about
like a rabbit in the trenches, ne re-
tains his somewhat ungainly wonted
SLOUGH. his free and easy ways, his un.
kempt. unshaven appearance that would
be the despair of the corseted, be-
gloved. automatic martinets OF Pots
dam. But he is a vigorous, active,
quick witted little fellow, with grim
determination In every line of his face,
ard his eyes CLEAN with inspiration
and confidence. evoking some mystic
influence of Jeanne dare.
Another striking characteristic of the
new army is the comparatively youth
full ages of the generals of higher COM
mand With rare and noteworthy ex-
ceptions, the old chiefs have been re-
lentlessly retired. Captains have been
promoted to colonies, lieutenants to
captains and sergeants to lieutenants.
The average age of brigadier general
now is about forty. There are many
captains of four and twenty. These
newcomers are welcomed with open
arms by the professional officers, who
never fail to give them the full bene-
/ fits of their longer experience.
Presented TO French General.
Together with my companions on a
visit to the front, Senator Lafayette
Young, of Iowa. Spanish poet. Gomez
/ Carrileeo, the Pierre Lott of Spain, and
/ Wythe Williams, representing a well
. known American journal, ! was pre-
scented by an officer of the General
Staff to General de Castelnau, the army
commander, in a small house that had
been the superintendent's Office of an
iron foundry. A sentry was at the
door, two gendarmes stood on the stair
way, a dozen automobiles were at the
roadside waiting orders and typewrit-
ers were tapping away, taking down
telephone messages. In a small room,
away from the din, amidst innumerable
maps tackled TO the walls and on the
/ tables, we were introduced 10 the gen.
eral, whose two sons were killed near
him during the war and whose third
son is wounded and a prisoner.
General de Castlenau, looking up
hastily from a pile of maps and re-
ports on which he had been busily
working with a staff officer, gave each
of us a quick, soldierly, cordial shake
Of the hand, saying:
81 am glad to see you here. Make
the best use of this splendid sunshiny
weather to work hard with your eyes
and ears and give honest, truthful de-
/ scriptions Of what you see and hear. |
have given orders that every possible
facility be offered you. Now, goodby,
gentlemen. | hope your visit will be
pleasant and profitable"
So away we went on our mission in
swift and powerful staff motor cars.