The sun., 1916-12-31
NCE REVIVES RANK OF MARSHAL AS HONOR TO JOFFRI
Office Is a Very Ancient One. Having Been Instituted by King Phli
Augustus at the Time of the Third Crusade-Origin of the
Baton as Symbol Of Supreme Command

narch!cal restoration on the ground
that the King was. despite his
Hohenzollern mother. the grandson Of
Princess Louise Of Orleans. This
amazing project. offensive to the
Belgian King Ind embarrassing alike
TO his royal French relatives, TO the
monarchical parties In. France and to
III Government and adherents Of the
republic. fell very fiat. But IL un-
doubtedly contributed to the delay in
h revival OF the dignity Of Marshal
OF France.
Now. however, after the lapse OF
more than two years conditions are
changed. BRAND instead OF vivianl is
Premier. and being a strong and mas
tcrful man has at length shaken him
self free OF the tranimels Of the Radi-
cal Socialist party. In the face OF the
lattcr's protests and objections he has
brought Gen. Hubert Lyautey from
h scenes Of his conquest in Morocco
tn Paris to take charge OF the great
War Department in the Rue 81.
Dominique. and has united with Presi-
dent Poincare in bestowing upou
Joseph Jofre. tho cocper's son. that
supreme prize Of the profession Of
arms which the first Napoleon used
to insist that every French soldier
carried In his knapsack: namely. the
baton Of a Marshal OF France.
Tho Office OF Marshal OF France,
which carries with II a special salary
Of 5000 over and in addition TO all the
pay and allowances Of a fail general.
and endows its holder with the rich, OF
remaining on the active list until his
death. instead of going into retire
mcnt on the score OF age. was not
abolished by the prcscn; republic in
France. as many seem TO Believe. AZ
the time when In 1875 legislative meas
ures were adopted in Paris for the ~
organization Of the army and for the
regulation OF tho various grades II
was specifically stated that the dignity
Of marshal was retained. but 1, was
stipulated that the conditions under
which the rank could 10 conferred
should be fixed by q supplementary
bill.
There were reasons for its r~ten-
ton. For at the time there were no less
than four Marshals OF France still
IN existence: namely. Barakuay-d'iiil-
liers. Canrobert. Leb9uf and last but
not least MacMahon, Duke OF Magenta,
who was occupying then the office Of
President Of the republic. Neither the
army nor the people would have toll
Grated their being deprived OF their
hatons. not even unhappy old L.ebpuf.
to whose lamentable incompetency as
Minister Of Wa so many of the dis
asters sustained by France in 1870
were due.
BN Parliament was determined 20
be very chary about ever bcstowing
the once again. and the supplementary
bill providing the conditions under
which II could he conferred remained
In allegiance until last week. largely
owing to the Radical Socialists. who
live in dread OF a military Dictatorship.
Neither President Poincare nor yet
Premier BRAND has been deferred any
longer by such considerations. The
supplementary bill. which has been In
suspense for forty-four years. has been
rushed through the chambers. and the
decree has been published appointing
Joseph Jonre to lie a Marshal OF
France.
Tho baton. as provided for by exist
ing military regulations in France,
consists OF a stan about two fee, long.
an inch and n half In diameter. covered
with dark blue velvet. fiecked with