El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-03-25
BRITISH FOLLOW
GRANT SPLAN
"We're Prepared to Fight It
Out" Says Chief Com
mander of Britons.
Rr FREDERICK PALMER.

British headquarters in France, Mar
%. via London, Mar. est was in the
drawing room Of the house in which
he makes his office that field marshal
Sir John French, commandments Of
the British expeditionary forces on the
continent, received the correspondent
today and discussed the military stu
alton. Before the conversation was
over the British commander, answer
ing a question concerning the result OF
the war said;
outcome I was never SO confident OF
victory as I am today. 1 am as con-
hdent as Gen. Grant was when ne took
command Of the army Of the Potomac
He kept at il and so shall We
Looking younger than ms pholo,
graphs make him appear, ready and
alert. Sir John showed no signs OF the
strain OF the last eight months as he
stood before his open crate IRE ana
talked Of his campaign and the war
What were the most important con-
tributing factors making your retreat
from Mons secure against overwhelnl-
ing Odds2' Sir John was asked
The dogged tenacity Of our little
regular army, which contested every
foot OF the ground as we fell back
studied U. :. Civil War.
Few Americans probably are as
familiar 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 ne
has found helpful in France He men
toned "StonewalI' Jackson
ITO me. Gen Jackson was more like
Cromwell than any other leader OF
history" said the British commander.
"A heroic, martial figure. whose won
derfuI career came TO the happy close
a soldier desires, in the hour OF VIC
tory. ] have followed all his marcneS
and battles with unflagging admlra-
ton He had the religious eIaIIauon
of Cromwell, his dash and determine
ton. and his steady strategy and the
genius OF inspiring his troops with
his own indomitable spirit Of energy
Places. Gen. Lee Foremost
But, Of all your commanders,
Robert E Lee. in his patience, his re-
source, his poise, his soundnesS OF
judgment and his possession or the
qualities OF high command in all emer-
gencies. is foremost. in my opinion
"a good deal has been said about the
conditions which the trench warfare
in this war has developed" was the
next thing said by the correspondent;
has 1t changed the qualities required
s.No." he replied Human nature
remains the same. and il is the man
who gives and takes the blows, what
ever the nature OF his weapons, Who
wins. Courage, discipline and tenacity
are still the dominant elements OF
and the guns: it has been repeat
edly stated that this has become a war
OF artillery"
Artimery's Value Exaggerated.
q think there has been an tnclina-
ton TO exaggerate the importance OF
artillery" Sir John answered NO
doubt, Of the three arms, artillery Fas
increased in relative Importance IT
may take a dozen shells TO get one man
and one bullet viii get one man. The
weapons which decide the day are the
rifle and the machine gun and the IN
fantry is still the queen OF battles
speaks Well of Enemy.
As a soldier speaking Of his enemy.
Sir John French was far from depre-
eating the fighting qualities or the
Germans. To the troops Of emperor
William he paid a soldiers chiyalrous
.'Brt they are no greater than other
soldiers" he said. Il attribute their
valor and their well disciplined CO
hesfon 10 the fact that from the cradle
they are taught discipline and TO Wor-
ship their emperor and the 1atnerIand
and that it is their duty TO die for the
fatherland when their emperor com
Gas to the conduct OF the Germans.
IS it as bad as represented - was asked
Of Sir John Have they consistently
broken the rules Of civilized warfare
For the first time the British COM
mander hesitated before speaking
Evidently as q -oldier he wished to be
entirely Just TO his enemy.
Yes" he replied, ''in many instances
their conduct has been bad, very bad;
[ know that it has been"
This declaration was made with firm
But it has varied II has
seemed to depend upon the com
manders- II a commander approves OF I
1utrages. they occur. Yes. in the main. I
Germany's conduct depends upon the
character Of the German generals"