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

THE BIRMINGHAM AC der of an army, or whether it be his simple lunch. which he often takes seated on the ground at the side of the road, and which he dispatches with good appetite. Frequently. instead of leaving the car to visit the headquar- ters of an army, he takes the general in command into the car with him and discusses matters en route, thus saving time and keeping to the time table pre- pared for his round. The discussion goes on while the general-in-ch chief and the general in command of an army are making their way to the communicat- ing trench through which they will proceed to the first line trenches.
 Nothing in the construction of these trenches escapes Joffre; if there is any thing wrong anywhere, the officers and soldiers say. it is that very thing that the generals eye will light upon. He prefers to be unnoticed in these sort of business trips to the front, insisting that they in no way partake of the form and ceremony that attaches to re- views. but instinctively when the old grandfather" passes, the sentinels and soldiers present arms, reckoning with emotion because of this op- portunity to honor the general-in- chief.
 None of the army commanders have yet been able to satisfy Joffre on two points-the shelters for the men along the first line are never deep enough, and the barbed wire entanglements that protect the first line are never dense enough.
 Its very well, it's very we'll" says he generally to the colonel, shaking his hand, "but you must put up a little more barbed wire. I am going to send you more. and when you have a few men available just deepen these shell ters a bit. too"
 HE NEVER FORGETS
 He never forgets such things; the barbed wire is always forthcoming, and if he passes that way again and finds the shelters have not been deepened, he notices it and makes the colonel mo- tice it.
 The numerous reviews that Joffre has had occasion to pass in 21 months of war are not entirely matters of show and parade. He first visits the installa- tion of one of the battalions and in- spects the kitchens. the laundry, and the organization of the baths. After he has assured himself that the material wants of the soldiers are cared for, he passes along the line to salute the regi- mental flag.
 Of all the generals who have con- ferred decorations during the war. none, it is said do it with such real feeling as Joffre. When he gives the "accolade" after pinning the cross upon the brave soldiers breast, whether 1t be the simplest trooper, the blackest SeneGalese rifleman, or an officer, he kisses him heartily on both cheeks, never being satisfied with semplance of an embrace as are some other gen. erals.
 After comforting with the general of an army, visiting the quarters of the troops or passing a regiment in re- view, Joffre always consults his little paper. the itinerary of his round, and this is about the only thing that dis turbs the equanimity of his temper. We are going to be at least 20 min utes late," he often says, impatiently, and this means that the man at the wheel must make up that time in or der to get back into the generals good graces; he never goes too fast to suit his illustrious passenger.
 HARDEST PART OF DAY
 The tour of inspection is generally finished about o'clock in the after noon. Then back at headquarters comes
 
 work-questions of displacement, pro- motion, retirement. recompenses of of ficers, and citations of soldiers, besides a thousand -and-one questions relatin g to arms, material, ammunition supplies, and the sanitary department. The re- serve supplies of shells for cannon of different calibre is a matter Of such mom entouS importance in this war that Joffre leaves the details to no one else: he the fJo head he, any day. can give the exact reserve stock of ammunition in hand. He knows also the exact figures repre- senting the daily output of the am- intuition factories. He personally at- tends to all trials of new engines of de- struction or protection.
 After the audiences relating to these questions, the general receives the di- rector of what is called the "services of the rear" to discuss transportation and plans for the repair or construc- tion of railroads; still more designs, more figures, all of which are organ ized. co-ordinated. and filed in the prodigious memory of the general in - chief, so accurately as to require no memorandum.
 General Joffre has been described by some of his generals as the safety valve of the army. While he is the directing
 
 is at the same time the relief for over- charged minds of subordinates who un- der certain contingencies, may be over affected by matters of secondary inn portance. Surprised by some unlocked for development and impressed by a complication that seems to them de- cisive and perhaps irremediable. sim pie observation from Joffre often re- duces the exaggerated incident to its proper proportions and cools the blood of his subordinates.
 NOT PARTIAL TO CIVILIANS
 The general in chief is not partial to the visits of civilians in wartime He has resisted with admirable con- sistency the constant pressure of thou sands of influential civilians who have no business at the front. but .neverthe. less desire ardently to see it. Besides the hundreds of war correspondents ts the supervising committees of tho Chamber of Deputies, hundreds of oth CT influential politicians. ministers, and other governmental officers. ther, are the visiting notabilities from tn, allied countries who never fail to pu in an application for a visit to thu front
 When the general lunches at the gen eral headquarters. he manages to sat isfy some of these innumerable de mands by receiving French or foreigl ministers. generals. other officers o allies armies, or notables. at his ta ble. The dinner is generally goot one, because Joffre eats with an eX oel1ent appetite, although he drinks lit tie and smokes not at all. It is on of the hours of the day which he look forward to. because questions relatin