El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-04-24
FRENCH MISSION
ARRIVES IN j. 8.
Field Marshal Joffre Is to
Assist in Preparing Our
Army for War.
Continued from page IL

ARMY IOf w dT.
Continued from page IL
ton was conferred on him by unani-
nous action of the French chamber IF
deputies in recognition Of his splendid
services as a military leader in what
probably was the most critical moment
in French history.
Commonly Called "Grandpa.-
His officers and soldiers, however,
scarcely knew him by the distinguished
title; to them he has been our JOffre."
or grandpa" since he led them to vic
tory on the Marine and finally turned
the tide of the German invasion. Yet
these familiar nicknames never con-
veyed to the French mind any sense Of
weakness.
Looks Out for His Men.
Beloved as he was by his soldiers
I Joffre is in fact a strict disciplinarian
His main aim. after making his DISPOSE
lions TO secure victory. has been the
protection Of the lives of his men. This
was illustrated in a small but impor-
tant manner early in the war when he
ruthlessly disregarded the traditional
French love for the famous red trou-
sers and had them discarded for the
present blue uniform.
Never Becomes Excited
Common sense is rated as his dis
tinguishing characteristic. He never
permits himself to become excited, even
under the most severe strain In the
darkest days OF the war in August.
1914, the minister of war paid a hasty
visit TO Joffre's headquarters then To-
Gated IN a small house at RomiIly, be-
hind the Marne- The German progress
was still in full swing, vet the minis
ter came back TO Paris buoyed up with
hope and sure Of ultimate victory. For
he had found the great general calm,
serene and absolutely certain of the
ability of his army to check the Ger
a mi tea
abundantly redeemed in his subsequent
victories.
Gave Way 10 NiveIIe.
Joffre was commander in chief Of the
French army at the beginning Of the
war and remained in that honor until
December, last, when he gave place to
Cen N1velle TO become marshal and
military adviser Of the government
Services at Disposal of L. :.
IN responding TO the present call
70 active duty, his services are placed
at the disposal OF the American people.
whom he comes TO advise in the best
way OF organizing, disciplining. equip
ping and perhaps transporting TO Eu-
rope, the greatest army which the
country has ever called into being
The marshal was born in 1852 at
Rivesaltes in the Pyrennes, OF parents
IN the middle station of life. At L ne
became student in the great French
military school. the Ecole Polvtech-
nique. The Franco Prussian war IN
1870 found him a sub-iieutenant in the
artillery, defending a Paris fort After
the war he devoted some time TO engi-
neer1ng works and these carried him
into 1ndo-Chins, Tonquin, Formosa and
Africa.
Decorated for Gallant Charge.
In the Timbuctoo he led a charge
which gained him a lieutenant cot
onelcy and the Legion Of Honor dis
uncuon- His thorough mastery OF nil
EGlencp "a MID
ton and in 1911 he was vice president
or the superior war council chief of
the general staff and practically head
OF the army II that capacity he
military service which is now conceded
70 have ben the salvation OF France.
Chocheprat Dean of French AdmiraIs
wee admiral Chocheprat is dean OF
the French admiralS and has as high
rank as can be obtained in the French /
navy as there IS no admiral. He is a
practical sailor with a most intimate
knowledge Of naval construction and
ordnance and It IS said he knows rs
much OF submarine warfare as any man
in the French navy
Chamburn Grandson Of Lafayette.
Marquis Pierre De Chamburn. a mem
Der Of the chamber Of deputies, is a
grandson OF marquis Lafayette OF revo-
lutionary fame. He was born in Paris I
June II, 1855. He is considered a no.
table authority on foreign affairs.
D. Simon, inspector of finances, has
an enviable reputation in France as m
authority on finance. For a long time F.,
he was stationed in Mexico irving TO }
adjust the extensive financial interests 3
Of French citizens there He is well ,
known in financial circles in the United /
States
HOyelacque Frequent Visitor.
NJ Hovelacque. inspector Of public .
instruction, is widely known in educs- |
tional circles in America He has paid 4
more than ten visits TO the United 1
states, the last only a year ago. max I
ing special study Of educational prob |
lens.
Dreyfus Not the Noted Dreyfus.
Surgeon Maj. DreyfuS is not the IA i
nous Mai Dreyfus whose case nearly I
disrupted the French army decade I
ago he was civilian physician at d
the beginning OF the war when called I
into military service and attached 10 (
Gen Joffre.
Bands Play as ship Comes In.
The Associated Press correspondent /
who accompanied the party from .
France sends the following dispatch {
from the port Of arrival E
las the ship bearing the French /
commission came into port today /
American warships broke out French !
colors from their mastheads and Ameri- (
can bands played the French national ,
anthem. American and French sailors
lined the rails of their respective ships. {
No salutes were fired.
Train Slipped QuiefIy Out of Paris /
The special train bearing the mis- /
sion slipped out Of Paris in the early 4
morning, observed only by a few secret 4
service agents and railway men.
The transfer from train to ship was
without event. as was the voyage across
the Atlantic.
Marships Go Ahead.
'Warships passed out ahead OF the I
French steamer into the danger zone. !
which in this case is one of the haunted 4
places of German submarines.
The first night out the shin and
Warship convoy made IS knots an 4
hour before the wind, all running with /
out lights After three years war serv-
ice, the celebrated liner which bore the 4
party is mixture Of former elegance /
and rough temporary fittings. Horse /
racks and troughs line the main prom
enade deck, powder and shells are \
stored in some of the private cabins /
fore and aft near the II inch guns 1
Racks OF repeating rifles are upon ev-
cry landing; life preservers are piled
near the stairways.
Part OF Guard Turns Back.
Part OF the guard turned back the
second night out but the remainder
continued all the way over. Saturday !
an English cargo boat set her course as