New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-30
France Makes
Petaiin Chief
OF War Staff
Hero of Vcrdun Called to
Aid Offensive on
Aisne
General May Get
Sweeping Powers
Likely to Become Economic
Dictator Of the
Country

Paris, April 29.-General Petain, who
commanded the French army defending
Verdun during the critical stages of the
battle in February and March, 1916, is
to be appointed chief of staff at the
Ministry Of War, the Cabinet decided
this afternoon.
The Cabinet meeting was presided
over by President Poincare and was
held after a session or the War Com
mittee. After general discussion It
was determined to restore the post OF
chief of staff at the Ministry of War
and confde it to General Petain.
The recent French offensive will be
the subject of an Interpolation Of the
government by Deputy Dalbiez, it has
been learned. The Cabinet already has
deliberated on this subject. Premier
! Ribot conferred individually with some
of his colleagues yesterday and had a
long interview with President Poincare.
The Premier had an interview with
General Niveile, the French commander,
last night.
Washington. April 29.-The appoint
ment of General Petain as chief OF
staff at the Ministry of War is pri-
marily a quick registration Of French
disappointment at the comparatively
meagre results secured by General Nj
velle in the present offensive along the
Aisne and in the Champagne. Evident
ly the nation expected strategic VIC
tory, whereas little more than pro-
nounced tactical success was obtained,
presumably at cost which is held too
dear. The results of Nivelle's often
| siye contrast unfavorably with the
sweeping British victory at Arras.
When Joffre, after placing the French
armies in high state Of organization,
was made a marshal of France and
retired from active service, it was be-
Ueved at first that Petain, the hero
Of Verdun, would succeed him in COM
mand of the armies in the field. 1t Is
understood that the offer was actually
made to him. However. his demands
for authority were so sweeping that
the politicians Immediately cooled tow
ard him, and Nivelle was selected for
the post. Nivelle was appointed as
nroponent of the offensive in warfare
and he has evidently heen measured
by that standard. IT,.
Though he has been named as chief
of staff at the Ministry of war, fetain
probably will succeed to the duties ialo
down by Minister OF war Lysutey
after the latter quarrelled with the
Chamber of Deputies and returned "
l,tbe Colonies. Petaln may even have
been. given wider duties. as it has been
his theory. constantly advanced IN the
face of oppositIon, that the commander
81 the armies should also be the eco
nomic dictator of the nation. whether
he will supercede Nivelle is not clear
Petain>a Fighter
Ahove all. Petain is known as
6ohter. He has the St. Cyr training anc
ir acknowledged an expert tactlclan ano
strategist. c.,.;. .;v,r
one wears ago, and by 1890 had become
o cantain in the elite Chasseurs Pied
When the war started he was colonel
Almost instantly he was made general
Of brigade. and by September IA, 1914
! he had become a general OF DIVISION
Seven months later he was commanding
tbe 93d Army Corps and took part IN
Tho Allied offensive in Artois. HIS wors
bere was so brilliant that he was placed
~ the head of the Second Army. which
he led through the Champagne offenslve
in October. 1915. His famous Iron Dl'
vision" of colored Colonial troops
whom he had personally trained, large
lv contributed to that victory. by TINS
time Petain was admitted a master oi
the offensive. c..r
It is reported that when the German
s.orm broke over Verdun the French
wsre ordered 10 evacuate the fortress
The rumor Of this aroused fury CT IN
dignation in France. and General dc
Castelnau was rushed up from Paris
WITH orders that Verdun must be held
a. all costs. Petain was selected to dc
- Under his command General Herr
arganized the now celebrated motor
transport system, and the catch phrase
"They shall not pass" became an
actuality.
Progress Of Allied attack on