The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-11

however, with which the gen eral with his own hands marks changes in the situation of the armies upon the maps.
 After hasty glance at the memoran- dunn, the general listens to reports from the staff, which are rapidly com mented upon, while concise orders, are given covering questions of detail aft erward projected orders of considerable consequence are submitted to the gen. eral by members of his staff, or sub mitted by him to the staff.
 General Joffre listens to his officers with a rather detached air; he even has the appearance of paying no att tention to what is being said; then suddenly will surprise his staff by in terrupting the reader of the report or letter and reaching out for it. When ever a phrase or a word strikes him, he insists upon reading for himself; he al- so follows for himself, pencil in hand, reports concerning military operations and movements of troops, and seeks out for himself even the most insignificant points named in the dispatches. With the same care he reads every telegram every order, before signing it.
 DECIDES SMALLEST DETAIL
 The first session of the day. disposes of questions of organization, troops re- quired at different points, movement by rail, sanitary service, arrangements for endorsements. all of which are decid- ed to the smallest detail. ....
 The first part of the session is de- voted to what is called the situation of the northeast" which means the north and east of France or the Franco-Bel- gian front; then follows a discussion of what is called the "T. O. E.," stand : ing for theatre opera tons exteror'
 After about three hours consecrated to reports and the necessary orders to provide for the eventualities of the day, Joffre rises firm his task and puts on his cap, which is the signal for the de- parture from the general headquarters to some one of the armies at the front. It is generally about 9:30. Three pow erful motor cars are always waiting at that hour in front of the villa. As the general passes out of the door, an officer pushes into his hand a small paper that he sticks into the pocket of his packet It is the time table and the itinerary of the days journey ar ranged and approved by him the even ing before and from which no di- vergence is permitted.
 The general-in-c chief and an ordnance officer get into the first car. while a sec ond officer follows in what is called the relief car" the third one being re- served for two secretaries who accom-
 
 armies. These same cars have car ried the general and his suite since the beginning of the war over nearly every mile of the gorund from the sea to the VoSgeS. The hours he spends speed ing over the country are hours of com para tive rest for him. He improves the occasion to read in more detail long reports that have not required imIne- diate attention but which he wants to know from beginning to end. but most of. the route is spent in rest, the gem eral being an adept in the art of catch ing snatches of sleep en route. He is credited with the power of sleeping when he wants to and awakening at will.
 KNOWN TO ARMY
 The generals car is known to every one in the army by the ri-colored fan ion with a gold fringed cravat that it carries. He always arrives without ceremony and proceeds mmediately and simply to the business in hand, whether it be a dicussion of important protected operations with the cOmman-