New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-05
Name Of Man Who Stood
Off Kaiser's Legions Only
Just Announced.
DREW TO FRONT
AFTER CHARLEROI
Work During Champagne Often
sivc Secured Him Place Of
Supreme Responsibility.
Ry FRED r. PIT\EN.
fBg Csol. n TIE r1bun, :

Verdur, who has defeated the Kaiser
himself. the Grown Prince, tho veteran
Won Hscseler and the best generals Of
which Germany can boast. Is General
Henri Philippe Pctain. Those on the
inside have known this for several
days, but it Was only to-day that the
public has been allowed to know the
name Of the general who will rank in
popular Imagination with Denfert
Rochereau, "the Lion Of Belfort,' IF
1870. The Official communication now
lets il be known that General Jofrc
was present in person, but under him
was General Pctain in active charge Of
the Verdun armies.
General Petain is or he verge Of his
sixtieth birthday. He was born at
Csuchy La Tour on April a. 1856,
and was graduated Al 81. Cyr in 1878.
He became a Lieutenant in 1888, Il cap
tain in 1890 and major in 1900. lie
was decorated with the ribbon Of the
Legion of Honor in 1901
At the beginning OF the war ne was
colonel Of the 33d Infantry and was
lust about TO retire voluntarily from
active service. He has been constantly,
since war was declared, in active com
mand Of various units al the front, and
has risen rapidly through the success
siye grades Of brigadier general, gen
ersl Of division and general Of corps
TO the rank Of army commander
In the Artois offensive. in May ana
June last year he was named with his
entire corps in the orders OF the day.
General Petain represents the best
traditions of the French army. During
the Nerdun defence his headquarters
have been an armOred automobile
carrying mitrailleuses, and in II he has
worked, eaten and taken such sleep a.
he has had. mostly while going from
one part of the battlefield TO the other.
IL is said Of him that nc is so con.
stantly covering in person his line OF
command that he had fourteen auto
mobile drivers IN two months Inc
general himself tells the story OF the
last one, who SAID:
"No. thank you! No more for me-
would rather take my chance OF being
killed by g boche than drive the gen
eral. Me for the first line trenches.
The general added. sorrowfully, Inc
poor devil is dead in the trenches
while AIN still here"
lie owes his great physical vigor 70
the care he has always taken OF his
health. He had the habit Of weighing
his food and limiting himself strictly
70 a certain amount. Cavalry horses
are kept in condition by measuring
their food" he would say, why not
do the same thing for officers? The
physical strength OF commander is
at least as important as that OF a
horse"
Also he took regular exercise. and
every morning before breakfast spent
a certain time jumping the rope. ms
vas tho occasion some years ago Wneh
in command Of the depot OF Arras OF
his being asked 10 move. "A Skipping
rope IS doubtless very good for colonel
Petain." said the neighbors, put some
what annoying for those who have az
apartment beneath HIM ne result
was that Colonel Petain TOOK a house
with a garden where nc eouId jump
the rope all he wanted 10.
To-day he and France are rcsplng
the benefit of his diligence. lie IS,
however, ss active az sixty az he wa
when he graduated from st. Cyr.
Recently i'm the Champagne he went
five kilometres at double time az the
head OF reconnaissance party. He
was never happier than when forced T.
spend the night with his men, without
n blanket 10 cover him. This makes
him especially loved by the soldiers
because he knows how 20 share then
lifc with a smile on his lips and
plague pleasantly Of tongue. Nv
Of MS soldiers we're recently IN Paris
on permission. They spent money with
particularly lavish generosity. ana
when a friend remarked oil Il. "What
do We care they said. I'VE are Pc
,ain's men,
A short time ago an ofhccr asked 10
be attached to his staff and Genera
Petnin said: "As staff officers ! can
only use champion bicycle riders o.
foot racers
General Petain first e himself
remarked during the retreat from
Charleroi when he was made general
Of brigade, and u was after the Cham
nagnc offensive of last September chat
he was placed in command at Nerdun.
Infantry has always been his IA
vorite arm a few years ago he said
20 n Young cavalry officer: "Lieuten-
AM, YOU will regret some day that
YOU are not an infantryman, for in the
next war IT will be the infantry which
will do the work and have The honor"
He always objected 20 being photo
9raphcd my face is TOO like Count
Zeppclin's." he say, and many times
he has destroyed the films Of soldier
who has tried 20 snapsho; him.