The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-25
GRANT KEPT AT 1T
SO WILL ALLIES
fcontinued from page one.I

tCOntfnueo from Rds0 OnS-y
was to be observed, however, that the
heads of the departments report 10
Field Marshal French immediately
upon a. telephone request
L Looking younger than his photo-
graphs make him appear, ready and
alert, Sir John showed no signs or the
strain of the last eight months as ne
stood before his open crate IRE ana
talked of his campaign and the war
What were the most important
contributing factors making your re-
treat from Mons secure against over
whelming odds?" Sir John was asked.
1.-The logged tenacity of our little
regular army which contested every
foot of the ground as we fell back,
was the answer
Never Lost Heart.
mot once did our soldiers lose
heart. They understood we We're not
defeated, but making a strategic re-
treat before heavy odds Their con-
fidence that their turn to take the OF
fenSiVe would come remained I'M
shaken. Next in Importance was the
work of our cavalry in its aggressive
ness and alertness in preventing the
cavalry of the enemy from getting
around u.s. Our cavalry established a
decided superiority over that of the
enemy which was of vital assistance.
-'And what to. you was the most crit
ical moment of all your campaign IN
France ?'' was the next question put
to Sir John.
One would not have been surprised
if he had said when his reserves were
practically exhausted in the battles of
Ypres and ArmentiereS ito save the
channel ports His answer had char
acteristic promptness and decision.
ION the retreat from Mons to LIE
Cateau. We were in the open country
in a very dangerous position and the
German ambition for the humiliation
of our little army might have been
realized if our cavalry had not been
equal to its task of covering the TANKS
of our steady disciplined regulars.
Few Americans probably are as ia
miliar with the campaigns of our Civ
il war as is Sir John. From them he
has drawn lessons which he has found
helpful in France. He mentioned
Stonewa11 Jackson. ITO me General
Jackson was more like. Cromwell than
any other leader of history said the
British commander. "a heroic, mar
came to the happy close a soldier de-
sires in the hour of victory.
ST have followed all his marches
and battles with unflagging admir-
ton. He had the religious eXaltation
of Cromwell, his dash and determina-
ton and his ready strategy and the
genius of inspiring his troops with his
own indomitable spirit of energy.
Lee the Greatest General.
"But of all your commanders, Rob-
ert E. Lee, in his patience, his re-
source, his poise. his soundness of
qualities of high command in all |
is foremost, in my opin-
ion."
"A good deal has been said about the |
novel conditions which trench war |
fare in this war has developed - was the |
next thing said by the correspondent. |
HAS it changed the quality required of |
a Soldier?"
NO" he replied. Human nature
the same and it is the man who |
gives and takes the blows whatever the |
nature of his weapons. Courage, dis |
cipline and tenacity are still the domi-
nant elements of success
"And the guns; it has been repeat |
eddy stated this has become a war of |
artillery
81 think there has been an inclina- |
ton to eXaggerate the importance of /
artillery, Sir John answered. NO
doubt of the three arms, artillery has
increased in relative Importance. 1t
may take a dozen shells to get one
man, and one bullet will get one man
The weapons which decide the day are
the rifles and the machine gun, and
he infantry is still the queen of the
oattleS.'' :.
AS a soldier speaking of his enemy,
Sir John French was far from depre-
eating the fighting qualities of the
Germans To the troops of Emperor
William he paid a soldiers chivalrOus
-ribute. But they are no greater
han other soldiers. L attribute their
sion to the fact that from the cradle
hey are taught discipline and to wor-
ship their emperor and the fatherland