Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-08
AT JOFFRE'S HEADQUARTERS

Were you fortunate enough to have been
admitted to General JyffreS presence at his
army headquarters you would have Prob
ably found HIM in a small room surrounded
by telephones and maps. The constant
sound of rushing motorCars. the ceaseess
coming of staff officers the arrival and dis
patch of te,egra.rs the hearing of reports,
frequently contradictory in the extreme.
form the atmosphere that surrounds him.
He alone would not appear to YOU to he
hurried as he issued orders or dictated in
structions--hurry would be sign of inde-
cisjon, and General Joffre never gives an
order before his decision has been fully
made
Some day these orders of General Joffre
will be issued in book form for the guidance
of generals of generations to come.
He orders what aim is tn be pursued. he
caves The choice of means to the immediate
commanders of the divisions or briga les.
| He never stiles initiative. he never tries to
prevent any one from having an opportunity
OF winning the laurel wreath of victory.
An impartial Judge, he is as ready with
| reward as with punishment: bu. he exacts
| quick brains ard firm hands from those
| who would serve under him.
At midnight you would find him working
| still, as you would probably find him two
| hours later Then you would see him throw
| himself upon the narrow iron cot, boots
| and all, and when the morning sun would
| come out from below the horizon to signal
IL
| cover the General already at work.
| A silent man If YOU please but has there
| over been an elouuence so powerful as his
silence?
| A loving husband, tender father. Cen
| eral Joffre has kept away from his family
| fron, the ,nonent The first shot was fired in
| this war He did so because he ordered
| that no woman must come near his soldiers
! camps, and he would have been untrue to
| himself had he not set the first example
| has never shirked his duty" would be n
| fair summary ~ the reasons why he has
| become "Our Joffre" from the moment he
| has assumed the high command of the
| Eronch army
| Kings have maid their homage to him.
| ,otions bava clarified him. great soldiers
| bava howed before his leadership, but he
has remained the simple man. the son of
an honest Pvrenean and when the war will
| he over be will probably hasten to his ma
tive piresal,es and forget the hardships Of
| The war over a game of manille. while the
| world will still sing his praises and repeat
| Lord Kitchener's words L: HE is n great
| man"
| No biopranhical sketch of General Joffre
| would he complete without few words
| about his home life
| In davs of peace General Joffre is the
man of the home in the truest sense Of
| the word. It is but seldom that he leaves
| his freside once the days labors are over
and the Roman adage Mems sana in
es,pore sano", has never had more ar
| dent disciple" than him
| Early to bed and early to rise has been
his iron rule when at home OF an evening
he loves to listen to his wife playing his
| and chats with his two little daughters; he
sings sometimes. for he knows the classic
| repertore and he appreciates good music :
| sometimes a friend comes in for talk ;
| hut not a day passes on which before
retiring for the night he does not spend
some time in his magnificent library. for
| he is a. true lover Of books and a never