The Cordova daily times., 1916-07-17
TO|L DOES NUT MAR JOFFRE'S
 GOOD NATURE


 PARIS, July 1.-(Correspondence of the Associated Press.) Twenty-two months of responsibility by General Joffre in the conduct of the greatest war in history during which time he has been on duty an average of IT hours a day and has travelled more than 7O,00O miles in a motor car, do not seem to have aged this veteran soldier a bit; there is not the slight est betrayal of fatigue in his counten- ance, his step or in his mind; he is quite as ready for any development today as at any time since the war began, and his decisions are as prompt and clearly thought out as on the his torical August 26, 1914, when he is- sued to the French armies the general Marne.
 It is in a quiet villa surrounded by a pretty garden and in spacious room on the ground floor with a billiard table covered with maps in the center and maps on all the walls that the general in chief begins to receive re- ports from his staff officers between 5 and o'clock in the morning.
 General Joffre. on sitting down at his work table finds a single sheet of paper, on which are noted the latest news of the situation of the French and German armies received during the night There is no inkstand on the table, for the general writes very little, and no telephone, an instrument that he detests, and never uses ex- cepting by proxy. There Is compli- cated set of colored crayons, however, with which the general with his own hand marks changes in the situation of the armies upon the maps.
 After a nasty glance at the memo randum, the general listens to reports from the staff, which are rapidly com. mented upon, while concise orders are given covering questions of detail; af, terward projected orders of consider able consequence are submitted to the general by members of his staff or submitted by him to the staff.
 General Joffre listens to his off. cers with a rather detached air; he even has the appearance of paying no attention 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 also follows for himself. pencil in hand, reports concerning military op. erations and movements of troops, and seeks out for himself even the most insignificant points named in the dis. patches. With the same care he reads every telegram, every order, before signing it.
 The first session of the day dis poses of questions of organization, troops required at different points, movement by rail, sanitary service, ar engagements for endorsements, all of which are decided to the smallest de- tail.
 After about three hours consecrated to reports and the necessary orders to provide for the eventualities of the day Joffre rises from his desk and puts on his cap, which is the signal for the departure from general head quarters to some one of the armies at the front. It is generally about half past nine. Three powerful 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 his pocket of his jacket. It is the timetable and the itinerary of the days journey. ar ranged and approved by him the evening before, and from which no divergence is permitted.
 The general-in-chief and an ordi' nance officer get into the first car, while second officer follows fin what is called the relief car" the third one being reserved for two secretaries who accompany Joffre on all his visits to the armies. These same cars have carried the general and his suite since the beginning of the war over naarl,, ovar,, ,aiIa nf fha urOund from