The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-17
Some of the Characteristics Of the
Born Leader of Men" and His
Work in South Africa

for his splendid spirit in cooperating
so closely with Gen. Joffro and SUBJ
ordinating himself to the general strate-
gical plan.
Somebody once at London dinner,
while proposing his health, said French
was the incompatible Ney" OF the
British army. That was after the Boer
war, when no had again and again
proved his skill as a leader Of cavalry,
but II is not every Colonel that makes
good General, or a good General a SUI
preme commander in the field. French
has not only been "A brilliant leader OF
cavalry, but has proved himself to be
General of no mean order. In fact
the war has produced the man.
French in South Africa went his way
regardless OF praise--hc was rarely
mentioned In dispatches. his operations
were too swift and secret for the war
correspondent to get alongside, and II
was not til the conclusion OF the war
that people BEGAN TO reflect that no ono
had anything to say against French
Silent. good tempered and alert. there
he was. ready TO do his duty II called
upon, but refusing to press his claims at
all, ne stands in the minds of English
men as a type Of man on whom they
can rely In moments Of emergency
solid. stcadfast and capable.
When history comes to be written we
shall know al. the early blunders ~
the war. The French false oprnmk
by raldng Alsace and Lorraine--how
the Bclgians said they could Withstand
the torrent for SO long, but must he
relieved by such and such a date--how
the French were not ready and were
, rot able to keep the appointment
what time the BelEidns We're being cut
to picces-how the contemplate little
British army" was hurled across the
Channel under French, and took hand
as they alightod from the footboards
OF the painting troop trains.
Gen French must have known that 1t
was not military strategy which took
/ HIM to MonS-but sheer humanity. Tho
story of that retreat will stand out IN
/ the pages Of history blazoncd with bril-
/ liant deeds The Splrtans at Their
mopylw and Sir John Moore at Corunna
made great retreats, but | believe for
GOODNESS, order and precision Sir Juhn
| Trcnch's retreat from Mons will stand
beside either.
Won Moltke always shook his head
! with perfect seriousness when praised
a. a General: An never had To re-
/ treat; that is the true test Of general
( ship And when you come to think Of
/ It .t must be So
our soldiers fought all day-seemcd
to drive the enemy back and then re-
tired Thy naturally wanted to know
why. and II they had not had complete
confidence in their leader, would have
lost heart.
Again and again the cavalry had TO
wheel round and fight rear guard acc
tious-for it is so fatally easy for a
quick walk To become a run--for IA re-
M at 10 become a rout. Keep them m
the run is a commonplace OF warfare.
The difficulty is to set the pace and
lind whore you can stop.
This General French did. He led them
inelrly to the walls Of Paris and then
suddenly the Germans came to the con-
clusiun that the retreat was not so sue
cessful as they had hoped. Indeed, n
the words OF Chatham, they had done
nothing and suffered much" And that
was due To Sir John French.
,CopVri0ht. CoWerS)