Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-04
jOFFRE NOT AGED
BY CARES OF WAR
from Flrst I'nrc.)

Continued from firs, raIeD
that he detcsts. and never uses. cX
ceptinS by proxy. There is compli
(. Gated set Of colorcd crayons. however
with which tho general with his "wi
hand marks changes In the situation .
the armies upon the maps.
After a hasty glance at the memo
ssfandum. the general listens to report:
from the stan, which are rapidly com
mented upon. while concise orders are
given covering questions Of detail
-Sfterward projected orders Of consider
liable consequence arc submitted TO the
rSencral by members Of his STAFF. III
: submitted by him to the STAFF.
!. LISTENS TO OFFICERS
WITH DETACHED AIR
- General Jofrre listens IL his officers
With a rather detached air: he even
has the appearance Of paying no at
tention To what is being said: then
suddenly Will surprise his staff by in
terrup,inc the reader Of the report or
letter and reaching out for IL, When
ever a phrase or a word strikes him. he
insists upon reading for himself; he
also follows for himself. pencil in hand,
reports concerning military operations
and movements " troops. and seeks
on; Tor himself even the most insisnifi :
SAINT points named iu the dispatches.
With ;hc same care he reads every
telegram. every order. before sign
,ne /,
The first session ~ the day disroses
.. questions cf organization. troops
required =; different points. movement
by rail, sanitary service, arrangements
for rs-enfo-ccmcu;s. all 81 which are
decided 10 The smallest detail
The frs; rar; II The session i Dc
.voted - whs; j. called tho situation
OF the Northeast" which means the
Franco Belgian front. then follows =
discussion Il wha; i called the T. ..
e" standing for ",hsster operations
exterior
After about three hours consecrated
10 reports and the necessary orders 10
provide for the eNentualities cf the day.
Jofre rises from his desk and puts on
his cap. which Is the signal for the
departure from the general hssdquar-
tiers 10 some one of the armies At the
front II is generally about a:Sn.
Three powerful motor cars arc always
waiting at that hour III front Of the
villa AS the general passes out of
the door. an officer pushes into his hand
a small paper that Ne sticks into the
pocket Of his jacket; II i tho time
table and the itinerary of tho day s
Journey. arranged and approved by him
the evening before. and from which
no divergence j. permitted
ACCOMPLISHED n> Att VISITS
ny TWO SECRETARIES
'rhc eeuera!-iu-chief and an ord
i,tn (. I.c E-S. N i Ia
a second officer follows in what il
called the relief car" the third one
being reserved for two secretaries who
accompany Joffre on all his visits 10
the armies These same ears have ear
ried the general and his suite since
the beginning Of the war. over nearly
every mile of tho ground from the sea
to the NoSGeS. The hours he spends
speeding over tho country are hours
of comparative rest for him. Ho i'm
proves the occasion 10 read in more de-
tail Ions reports that have not re-
ouired immediate attention, but which
he wants to know from beginning 10
end hut most Of the route il spent in
rest, the general heiuc an adept III the
art of catching snatches IT sleep cn
route lie is credited with the power
OF sleeping when he wants IL and ~
awakening at will
The generals car i known ~ every
one in the army 10y the uicolorcd
fanion with a ld-frinced cravat that
il carries. He always arrives with
out ceremony and proceeds Immediate
~ and simply IN the business i'm hand.
whether 1t he a discussion II important
projected operations with the com.
mander of an army. or whether i, he
his simple lunch. which he often take.
seated on the ground At the side of a
road and which he dispatches with
Eond appetite. Frequently. instead Of
leaving iac ear t. visit the head
quarters Of an army, he takes tho gen
eral in command into the ear with
him and discusses matters en- route.
thus SAVING time ANA kccpimE To the
time table prepared for his round The
discussion goes OH while the general
in-chicf st&f thesE.ncral in comma nd
Of an ARMY are making their way to
the communicating trench through
line trenches
Nothing in the construction of the So
trenches escapes Johrc; II there is any
thing wrong anywhere. the officers ant
soldiers say, il is that very thing tina,
the generals eye viii light upon II.
prefers TO he unno:ir"d ia these sor,
Of business trips to the front insisting
that they in no way partake nf The
form and ceremony that attaches to re
views. but. instinctively. when the ole
"Erandfather' passcs the sen,iuclS an,
soldiers present arms. rcddeniur viii
plsasurah!e emotion because of rhi
opportunity 10 honor tho scnera!-in
chief.