The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-26
FRENCH IS CONFIDENT
 OF ULTIMATE VICTORY
Fredeck Palmer Interviews Commander of British Forces France and Gets His Opinion the War Situation
 Praises Valor of Allied Troops
By FREDERICK PALMER

l british Headquarters in France, March 2o.-tNia London, 12:31 D. m)-It was in the drawing rooin of the house in which he makes his office that Field Marshal Sir John French received the correspon- dent today and discussed the military situation. Before the interview was over the British commander answering a question concerning the result of the war. said:
 Indeed, there is no doubt of the out come. l was never so confident of vic tory as I am today
 1 On a long table before the British com mander were a number of maps and re- ports Otherwise, however, the man ap- peared completely disassociated from the details of the different armies situated in other offices about the town It was to be observed, nevertheless that the heads of these departments report to Field Marshal French immediately upon telephone request.
 Looking younger than his photographs make him appear, ready and alert. Sir John French showed no signs of the 1 straln of the last eight months as he stood before his open grate fire and talked of his campaign
 what were the most important con- tributlng factors making your retreat from Mons secure against overwhelming odds?' Sir John was asked.
 Soldiers Never Lost Heart
 The dogged tenacity of our little regu- lar army which contested every inch of the ground as we fell back" was the answer. Not once did our soldiers lose heart They understood that We were | moi flofa tod 1.V.t a.l-t.. treat before heavy odds, and that all the punishment which they could inflict on the enemy by cool and stubborn re- slstance from point to point was no less valuable to the ultimate object than if they were advancing. Their confidence that their turn to take the offensive would come, remained unshakable. Next in importance was the work of our cavalry in it's aggressiveness and alert ness in preventing the cavalry of the enemy from getting around us. Our cavalry established a decided superiority over that of the enemy, which was of vital assistance"
 And what to you was the most critical moment of all your campaign in France?' was the next question.
 One would not have been surprised if he had said when the question was put when his reserves were practically eX- hausted in the battle of Ypres and Ar flentlefeS to save the enamel ports. His answer had characteristic promptitude and decisiveness.
 'On the retreat from Mons at I.e Cateau we were in the open country in very dangerous position" he said. and the German ambition for the an- initiation of our little army might have been realized if our cavalry had not been equal to it's task of covering the Hanks of our steady disciplined regulars"
 Few Americans are as familiar with these wars as Sir John French is with the American civil war history. He has used these to his own help in France Stonewall Jackson was then mentioned next by the correspondent.
 "To me Jackson was more like Cromwell than any other leader of his tory" said the British general "A he roic martial figure, whose wonderful career came to the happy close a sol dier desires in the hour of victory. I have followed all his marches and battles with unflagging admiration. He had the religious eXaltation of Crom- well, his dash and determination, and his ready strategy and the genius of inspiring his troops with his own in- domitable spirit of energy.
 But of all your commanders Rob ert E. Lee, in his patience, his re- sourcefu1ness, his pose his soundness