Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-19
ENGLISH NOT At FAULT,
FRENCH OFFICER SAYS
However, People Of France Are Com
planning of Their British
Allies, He Admits.
MILLION OF ENGLISH ON FRONT
She Was Never Under Obligation to
Send Her Armies to Continent.
, Government Could Not Do More
Than Has Been Done.

Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch
LONDON. September 1s.-Many are
the Englishmen who have said that If
the French are really complaining be-
cause the British. in spite Of thei.
Roasting of having raised a volunteer
army of 100000 men, are still only
holding a front OF only thirty-four
miles. one must admit there may be
something in their way OF reasoning.
An officer OF the French gener II sraff.
however, who is at present visiting
London. says that French officers have
4 absolutely no fault to find with their
English allies, though he does not deny
that tho French people are complain
ing.
I'VE understand perfectly WELL" he
said. that when Marshal French pre-
ferred to establish his front in depth.
rather than extend II to the sides. II
was because he wanted only success
sively to bring the newly trained men
into the first line, that they might
gradually become used to the actual
fighting. which at this time has become
a war-veteran's game indeed.
Let me emphasize this. however,
that Marshal French in no way doubts
! the valor of the young troops sent from
England. but. as during his forme err
campaign. he has always been used
to handling an army OF professional
soldiers and to commanding men In
whom discipline In face OF the gravest
danger has become an instinct he con-
siders 1t necessary to complete the
training OF the new bodies by a long
apprenticeship In the third and second
lines.
ENGLAND HAS ARMY OF
100000 on BATTLE FRONT
Now he has accomplished his pur-
pose. and he may send the men who
now constitute his rear lines into bat
tie anywhere and at any time. They
will stand as firm and attack with as
much swiftness and strength as their
professional comrades who form the
nucleus of the British armies The
same may be said. in fact, OF the SOL
diers now coming over from England
after a longer training-they are able
to march direct from the transports
into battle, as the Germans will soon
find out.
LAS n matter OF fact. the maps I have
seen in England showing a bird s-eye
view of the English front were perhaps
quite exact two months ago, but they
are no longer so, and I bctray no mill
tary secrets when ] say that II you
start along our front from the Belgian
coast you find first the Belgian army
then a French army. then the first
English army. then again a French
army. and after that n new English
| army, with n front OF no less than
100 miles, and finally the bulk OF the
French. Altogether. there are now
with us on the front an English army
OF approximately 100000.
"As for the reserves. still in Eng
land, / am not permitted TO say any
| thing. as the EnGlish War Office do
sires to keep the exact number secret
rightly asserting that the unknown is
very often an important factor of sue
cess In war"
ENGLISH GOVERNMENT
COULD DO NO MORE
But why have the English been 80
slow when they had these enormous
masses Of troops at their disposal
doubters gay. There were several rea-
sons for this. the principal one being
CONTINUED on Sixth Page.)