Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-25
British Commander Pre-.
diets Ultimate Defeat Of
t German Armies.
DOGGED TENACITY
OF BRITISH WINS
Praises Determination Of troops and
Declares Aggressive Spirit Of Cavalry
Prevented Annihilation Of Army in
Retreat From Mons-0srmans Said
"a Have Violated Rules Of Warfare
Hut Blame 10 Placed on Leaders.

10 V3VO VbOS0S00 NSsSS ~ 's~''~'~
hut eiam, 10 Placed on Leaders.
New York, March 25.-Frederick
Palmer, who is at the front in France
for the Associated Press, sends the fol-
lowing dispatch:
British Headquarters in France, via
London. March 25.-It was In the
drawing room Of the house in which ne
makes his office that Field Marshal Sir
John French, commander-in-chief OF
the British expeditionary force IN
France. received the correspondent to-
day and discussed the war situation
Before the conversation was over the
British commander, said:
Indeed, there is no doubt OF the
outcome. l was never so conndent OF
victory as am today. am as conn
dent as General Grant was when ne
took command Of the Army of the
Potomac. He kept at it and SO shall
We."
Seemingly pisassoeiated With War.
On a long table before the British
commander were number OF maps
and reports. Otherwise the man who
directs the operations Of the British
army in France appeared disassociateo
from the details of the different army
departments situated in other OFFICES
about the town. It was to be observed,
: y. l.sHeyey, that heads Of other depart
ments report Immediately to General
French on telephone order.
Sir John showed no signs OF the
strain OF the last eight months as ne
stood before his open crate are ana
.SSfx1ko0 Ofs isis campAa Ign and the War.
'sss saist6 Tsnaeity of Dritish.
what were the most important con-
tributing factors making your retreat
from Mons secure against overwhelm-
ing odds?" he was asked.
.,The logged tenacity Of our little
regular army which contested every
foo. OF the ground as we fell back,
was the answer. Not once did our
soldiers lose heart. They understood
that we were not defeated but were
making q strategic retreat before
heavy odds and understood that all the
damage they could inliict on the enemy
was Hs important as II they were ad-
vancing. Next in importance was the
work Of our cavalry in our 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
Faced AnnihiIation at Mons.
"And what to you was the most crit
zeal moment Of all your campaign In
Franca?' was the next question asked.
one would not have been surprised
II he had said when his reserves were
practically exhausted in the battles OF
Ypres and Armentieres to save the
\ channel ports. His answer had char
acteristic promptness and decisiveness.
..On the retreat from Mons, at LIE
Z Chateau, we were in the open country
and in a very dangerous position and
the German ambition for the annihilia-
ton OF our little army might have been
realized If our cavalry had not been
B equal to the task Of covering the fianks
4 Of our steady disciplined regulars.
Student ef American Rebellion.
Few Americans probably are as fa-
miliar with the campaigns Of our civil
war as is Sir John. He has made q
thorough study Of them from which he
has drawn lessons helpful in France.
He mentioned Stonewai Jackson. ~
ITO me Stonewall jackson was mora
like Cromwell than any other general
he said. "A heroic figure, whose won
derful career came to the happy close
4 the soldier desires. have followed all
His battles with unfagging admiration
4 He had the religious exaltation Of
Cromwell, his dash and determination.
and his ready strategy and the genius
az inspiring his troops with his own
\ ifldomnitable spirit of energy.
But Of all your commanders Rob-
ert e.. Lee, in his patience, his re-
/ Gource, his poise, his soundness OF
Judgment and his possession Of quail
ties Of high command. in all emer-
gencies, is foremost in my opinion
"a good deal has been said about
& the novel condition which trench war
l fare In this war has developed. Has
{ Il changed the qualities required ior .
! soldier?. he was next asked.
War Factors Little Changed.
No z he replied to this question.
Human nature remains the same and
y II ID the man who takes and makes the
Iii, !. g sseirline and tenac
sity are Sstill the dominant elements
! Of success. @
with the guns; 1t has been repeated
/ ly stated this has been = war Of artil- 4
iery.''
q think there has been an inclina-
4 ton to exaSgerate the importance of
artillery. No doubt OF the three arms,
artillery has increased most in relative
nimportAnce. II may take q dozen shells
! 70 ret = NAN, and one bullet will get
8 one man. The weapons which decide
the day are the rifle and the machine
sun, and the infantry Is stsll the queen
sa,.ss