The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-01-12

like Clerical Force.
Paris.-"War In its grim reality has
upset all the ideas which we had Of
its aspect says Frantz-R eichel, who
In the Figaro gives a pen picture Of
| General Joffre and his staff ut work
at the headquarters OF the French
army. lie G. @. g." abbreviation for
grand quarter general" is what the
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
ISOLATED, however little. in the work
| of the brain that thinks for all, to ap
| proach that corner of France where
1 AAI hA0hHhA " ANiNEAaIh VI AIiNlNhVht
the results of every hour, from where
leave the orders which inspire the
movements of that immense ana 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-
sponslbility of the life of Francis
far different from what one would
imagine Ii. When one has viewed il.
with all its installations, the impress.
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.
The great headquarters of the
French army was in a little town at a
20 dly distance from the trenches,
shifting whenever the occasion requir-
ed 1t.
The town it occupied presented no
uncommon sight-a commercial town.
with humdrum streets, which were In
times of peace animated by its popu-
lation concerned in two industries, the
repairs of material of the Eastern rail-
| road and the manufacture of wooden
| goods.
About General Joffre gravitate 200
officers. assisted by an army of secre.
taries. These men collaborate at three
services-that Of the general staff prop
Awlu ~ ..rs.o - 49, eA1~ nr1 fha
service OF the railroads.&c. 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 exigencies
OF the front. where 100000 men are
deployed along a 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 is q silence absolute, impressive
They are 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 office:
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 a:
one 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.
"All this is the work of General Jof
FIRE, Incompatible administrator, emf
nent s~trategist. admirable chief. who
by his own example and the influence
he Yields has brought all his subordi
mates into the path Of duty well done.
IAN indefatigable worker. his great
headquarters Is run like a piece OF
well oiled machinery. The generals
He rises at 5 o'clock and has a ligh1
breakfast Of coffee and rolls; then he
visits the three service chiefs, works
with them, hearing or reading reports
sanctioning solutions adopted; after
that, before luncheon, he takes a wall
on foot, during which he works out in
his brain plans for the action of the
allied armies. The walk over, the gen
eralissimo returns to his house. where
he has luncheon.
Every three or four days the gener
alissimo goes on a tour Of inspection IL
his automobile. He visits each OF his
armies In turn, confers with theil
chiefs. chats with the soldiers. His
chauffeurs are two of the most famous
racers in France. Boillot and Rigal
General Jofre likes to take maps while
his automobile In flying along. He says
1t induces a most restful sleep.
plain and good, just in rewards al
in punishment, he Is respected. esteem
ed, adored by all. Obeying nothing
bat military necessities, he chooses hi
men. leaving to each n his initiative
fnsensible to eulogy. Indifferent to crit
icism, a general Of duty. he has con
quered the admiration of the entire
world"