New-York tribune., 1915-03-26
"STONEWALL" JACKSON
SIR. John FRENCHS HERO
British Commander Praises Military Ability OF oouth
ern Cavalry Lcader-Says Infantry Is Still
Deciding Arm of Service.

Frederick Palmer, ,oho Is at the
front in Franco for The Associated
Press, sends the follotcing dispatch.
British Headquarters in France. March
25 (via London) 1T was In the draw
ing room Of the house In which hs
makes his Office that Field Marshal Sill
John French, Commander-in-C Chief OF
the British expeditionary forces on the
Continent, received the correspondent
to day and discussed the military stu
alton. Before the conversation waa
over the British commander. answering
a question concerning the result OF the
war, said:
Indeed, there is no doubt Of the out
come. was never so confident Of VIC
tory as ] am to-day. l am as confident
as General Grant was when he took
command of the Army of the Potomac.
He kept at 1t, and so shall we."
On long table before the British
commander were many maps and re-
ports. Otherwise the man who directs
the operations of the British army in
France appeared completely dissoci-
ated from the details Of the different
army departments situated in other Of
fees about the town. 1t was to be OBJ
served. however, that the heads OF
these departments report to Field Mar
shal French Immediately upon tele-
phone request.
Looking younger than his photo
graphs make him appear, ready and
alert, Sir John showed no signs OF the
strain OF the last eight months as he
talked Of his campaign and the war.
Troops Tenacity Praised.
what were the most important oon-
tributing factors making your retreat
from Mons secure against overwhelm-
ing odds !" Sir John was asked.
"The dogged tenacity Of our little
regular army, which contested every
foot of the ground as we fell back"
was the answer.
"Not once did our soldiers lose heart.
They understood that we we're not de-
feated. but making q strategic retreat
before heavy odds. and that all the
punishment which they could infict
on the enemy by a cool and stubborn
resistance from point to point was no
less valuable to the ultimate object
than IL they were advancing. Their
confidence that their turn to take the
offensive would come remained un-
shaken. Next in Importance was the
work Of our cavalry in its aggressive
ress and alertness 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 criti-
cal moment Of all your campaign in
France" was the next question put to
Sir John French. One would not have
been surprised II he had said when
his reserves were practically exhausted
in the battle of Ypres and Armenti
eres to save the Channel ports. His
answer had characteristic promptness
and decisiveness.
"On the retreat from Mons at lie
Cateau. We were in the open coun-
try in q very dangerous position, and
the German ambition for the annihila
tion Of our little army might have
been realized If our cavalry had not
Leen equal to its task Of covering the
fanks Of our steady, disciplined regu-
lars"
Knows Civil War History.
Few Americans probably are as IA
miliar with the campaigns of our Civil
War as is Sir John. He has made a
thorough study of them, and from
them he has drawn lessons which he
has found helpful in France. He men
toned "Stonewall" Jackson. "To me
General Jackson was more like Crom-
well than any other leader of history"
said the British commander. "A heroic,
martial figure, whose wonderful career
came to the happy close a soldier de-
sires in the hour of victory. have
followed all his marches and battles
with unfagging admiration. He had
the religious exaltation of Cromwell,
his dash and determination, and his
ready strategy and the genius of in
spring his troops with his own in
domitable spirit of energy.
"But of all your commanders Rob-