The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-16
GENERAL JOFFRE
HEADQUARTERS
Pen Picture Of Industry Around
Popular Frsneh Commander.
WORKS FAR FROM TRENCHES.

WORKS FAR FROM TRENCHES.
About Him a,avi.a.s 200 otiosrs A..
sisted BY others-Alli Labor Day and
Night, With Little Rsst-ldIensss Is
Never Displayed Among the Machine.
liks Clerical Force.
Paria.-"War in Its grim reality has
upset all the ideas which we had Of
It's aspect" says Frantz-Reichel. who
in the Figaro gives a pen picture Of
General Jofre and his star at work
at the headquarters Of the French
army. lie G. Q. c. a%bbreviation for
grand quarter general is what tho
headquarters OF the generalissimo Is
called.
"For each army the headquarters is
anywhere from seven to twelve kilo.
meters behind the firing line, while
for the entire field army the great
headquarters is from so to 100 kilo-
meters away. Great headquarters is
the mysterious confer from which
comes nothing but what is duly au-
thorized. To go there, to see those
who. grouped about the chief. are as.
scented. however little. in the work
Of the brain that thinks for all; to ap.
proach that corner OF France where
are brought by telegraph or telephone
the results Of every hour. from wtrre
leave the orders which inspire the
movements Of TINT immense and many
jointed body. the army. Is the dream
OF all. the privilege of a few.
But the great headquarters where
the generalissimo works-the man who
assumes the superb but crushing re-
s%ponsibillty Of the life Of Francois
far different from what one would.
imagine II. When one ias viewed it.
with all Its installations. the 'impres.
sion that one gets is of a gigantic
mandatory where in Offices filed
With work everybody tolls with order
and method at the accomplishment OF
tasks well understood.
1.-THE great headquarters Of the
French army was in u little town at ii
soodly distance from the trenches.
shifting whenever the occasion reuulr.
ed. It.
1.-THE town 1t occupied presented no
uncommon sisht-a commercial town.
with hnmdrum streets. which were Iii
times OF peace animated by its popu.
lntion concerned in two industries, the
repairs OF material Of the Eastern rail-.
road and the manufacture Of wooden
goods.
About General Jofrre sravitate 200
officers. assisted by mn army Of secre.
taries. These men collaborate at three
s~eryices-that OF the gencralistaG prop.
erly. the service Of the rear and the
service Of. the railroads--all placed un-
der the orders Of three officers who
are the immediate associates Of the
generalissimo. The three services are
installed in three school buildings. Day
and night the staff is at work attend
ing to the thousand and one e%xigencies
OF the front, where 100000 men are
deployed along q stretch Of 500 kilo-
meters.
I'm these Offices. from which are sent
out the orders commanding the thun.
der Of the guns, the rattle Of small
arms. the pandemonium Of regiments
hurled forward In clamoring assault.
there % q silence absolute. impressive.
They arc working without noise, with
out respite. The only sounds are the
gathering OF typewriters and the ring
Ing Of telephone bells. One has the
sensation Of passing through the offices
Of a great industry. where every one.
animated By duty and held by strong
discipline. works faithfully at his ap.
pointed task. Heads are not lifted as
ono passes. Such order, such applica.
ton gives one a feeling not Of hope.
but Of confidence that the fluctuations
Of the battlefield cannot shake. The
faces reflect confidence and faith.
AN this Is the work Of General Jof.
fire. Incompatible administrator. emf.
nent strategist, admirable chief. who
BY his own example and the influence
he wields has brought all his subordi.
Mates into the path of duty well done.
An indefaugable worker, his great
headquarters 10 run like a piece Of
we'll oiled machinery. The generals.
simo himself follows a strict routine.
he rises at 8 o'clock and has a light
breakfast Of coffee and rolls: then he
visits the three service chiefs. works
with them. hearing or reading reports,
sanctoning solutions adopted; after
that. before luncheon. he takes a walk
on foot. during which he works out in
bis brain plans for the action Of the
allied armies. The walk over. the gen.
eralissino returns to his house. where
be has luncheon.
Every three OF four days the gener-
alissiuo goes on a. tour. Of inspection In
his automobile. he Visits each OF his
armies In turn. confers with their
chiefs, chats with the soldiers. His
chauneurs are two Of the most famous
racers in France. Boflot and Rigai.
General Joffre likes to take maps while
Ma arfnv,nht1n 4. Axfn~ .ye,, un..-.