South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-16
BY c. Il. BertelIi.

PARIS, FEB. 16.-By Tar the most
thrilling document published since
the war began is an interview with
Gen Joffre giving his views of mill
itary operations from the battle of
Charleroi 10 the French reverse at
scissors. The interview was obtain
ed by his lifelong friend, Paul
Huard, and printed in Depeche De
Toulouse, on Saturday last.
In Gen. JOffre's barely furnished
room , feet square, containing three
arm chairs and a table, Huard and
the commandments threw them
selves into each others arms in a
Gallo embrace of long intimates.
After the preliminary greetings, -
Huard writes, 4 turned the CONVEX
sation to military operations and
IOffre expressed his utmost confidence
in final victory. He had told me the
same thing the very day war was de-
clared. Now my mind went back 10
the anxious hours of the Germans
Overwhelming march on Paris and to
the French defeat at Charleroi which
had seemed to me a bloody denial of
Joffre's persistent confidence:
You ought really to give me some
explanation Of CharlerOi / said to
him. The general was neither aston
ished nor offended by my question.
Il asked him if it was really true.
dS the general puDllc ana even the
cOmbatants believed that we were out
banked in Belgium by Overwhelming
masses.
"Joffre is one of those men who
throughout their existence never told
a lie.
Lost 1t BY Mistakes.
Not at all. not at ALL replied
JOffre. our army was in sufficient
numbers. We ought to have won the
Il n
chances 70 one to win ii. We lost it
through our own faults by mistakes
OF our commanders.
Long before the war broke out
] was aware a great number of our
generals were worn out ("fatigues."
Some of them seemed TO me unfit to
fulfil their duties Some inspired me
with doubts others even with dis
Quietude. ] made known my inten-
ton TO introduce a younger element
into our superior command. Despite
all comments and in face Of all i'll
feeling 7 would have pursued my task
but the war came too soon.
There were a certain number OF
generals whom 7 trusted but who i'm
perfectly came up to my hopes. The
fact is the real test of men. fitted for
warfare is war itself rather than
strategical colleges. The keenest in
/
edge are Of little value if TO them
are not added certain qualities of ac-
ton.
ParaIyzed Merits Of Men.
Such are the responsibilities OF
war that they paralyze the rarest
faculties in men of merit. That is
what happened TO some of my chiefs.
! They could not do justice to their war
merits.
/" snbeo,,.;,,c, +Io.o 5oeo;o.,,;o,. T
had set about remedying them Some
| OF these generals were my best COM
rades, but, while l love my friends,
/ love France still more. L therefore
/ relieved them of their commands.
removed them as / expect to be re-
moved myself if 1 am found deficient
| Not, indeed as a punishment but
/ simply for the public veal.
/ Il did this with anguish in my
SOUL and when in sOlicitude | wept.
Turning the general from his mel
! anchOly memories / said to him:
| Now explain to me your retreat.
/ especially by what surprising miracle
or what singular caprice, Gen. Won
Kluck obliqued so suddenly when
Paris was already within his reach.
The retreat was very simple re-
/ Piled JOffre, now smiling again.
with numerous details he ex-
! planned to me how Won Kluck's men.
casting aside their haversacks, swept
| like a whirlwind on Paris.
He explained how during the 10
| days the English French retreat last
ed, he, Joffre, built up in the region
of Amiens. that is on the flank of the
| line of the invasion, an army whose
| existence was unknown to ALL and es-
pecially to the Germans until the day
when, concentrated and moving off to
| the command of the French general
issimO, this army Of Gen. MaunOury
| gave such a sudden and violent elbow