Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-12
VISIT TO MEN
OFTEN IS UNEXPECTED.
But Its Eject Is Like Electric Shock,
Which, Make BackboncS
Like Steel Rods.
QUICKLY MAKES INSPECTIONS
Asks Few Questions as He Looks
Over Each Gun and Crew, and
Forms Proper Judgment as to
Value of Their Training.

BRITISH HEADQUARTERS FRANCE.
September 1.-THE only man of tn"
hundreds OF thousands At the British
front who wears tho crossed hntons of
"A field marshal or his shoulders APP
pearcd in an opening in the shruhhrry
which bordcrcd. the field where u ma
chine gun battery OF the New Army was
waiting for orders 10 move.
+ None OF the men in thc battery had
any idea that he was corning. They
were louneinS and chatting as they
waited In 4 glance every one identi-
fed that sturdy figure. with it's square
chin and Tho white. Dropping mustachc.
with the pictures which they had seen
in til" papers. There was no need for
A call 10 attention. Tho offcc, was like
an electric Shock whicE sent every
man 10 his place and made his back
bone steel rod
"Docs Sir John Fxench often slip
M on you that way7" Casped one OF
III" BATTERY licr,crants. who was all
Of ninetren years OF ago Nineteen is
the limit OF Youth for officers III the
New. Army. I'D there are scores no
older. From ;hc ono chocolate drop on
tina, hoy leutcnant's sleeve 10 the ross
hatoas represented a dizzy altitude.
The battery had just come out from!
England II took the communicative
chief about 1--WE minutes 10 form his
juds merit OF the results Of their nine
months preparatory drill. He asked a
few questions as he looked over each
gun and its crew.
Very good!" he snd. and returned
to his car. which was 10 take him on
to inspec, some other formation.
COMMA NDER-IN-CHIET
SEEMINGLY ALWAYS On GO
ANY idea that the commander in
chief spends ali his time over a map
with a telephone ~ his elbow" rs the
staff officer explained, is quite errone-
Gus. n is always on the GO
The automobile enables him 10 get
over n lot of ground in n day. Some
times the inspections are quito formal.
Different battalions OF a brigade drawn
up in fields await his coming. Com
handing officers know of his approach
when they see the flag Of his chr. hut-
tcring along the road. On these &C
casions he usually makes a little
speech. Once when platform had
been. arranged for him TO address n
battalion he passed IL by and went
closer to the men standing in the field
with their rigid columns around him
After that platforms went out of
, fashion.
One might think that ne could learn
very little by a brief inspection or
wat ching troops march past on parade"
said the staff officer. but a soldiers
eye takes in moro than n civilian can
| guess. lie not only sees that uniform
and equipment are in good condition,
| but lie is able to Judge both the spirit
and tho physical condition of the men
II they have been having a hard time
of II In the trenches he can tell how
much fGht is left in them He NAV
| Judge The character of the reserves who
have filed the vacant places And the
mon see him. He is no longer a dis
tant figure. They feel the effect of his
! personality"
| Tho New Army contingents, as they
arrive receive particular attention.
! Every general in the army seems
| 10 he taking his turn at inspecting us
said ono OF the New Army officers I'VE
had plenty of inspections at home. We
, came out here to fight"
When this war repeated 10 n staff
! ohicer who belongs to &c. II. O." as
! 'heE cal general headquarters he sa:d:
IheN need not worry about that
IhcE VIII he getting fighting enough
"hcn the time comes. But they have
the right spirit. All the armies in this
war nave found that the men who have
! hecA III the trenches know from expe-
!iehcc now 10 hold the trenches They
can HiS ana they can stick, no matter
now heavy the shell fire. But fresh
troops when properly drilled. arc the
j Fnp /,
far larger army which has never hoard
! III" crack Of 4 bullet than has ever hoe,
under rr" The New Army mon lcarrod