Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-01-28
PETAIN A MARSHAL
SPLENDID French Soldier Gets Prop
er Recognition r..
WILLED they SHALL NOT PASS

This Is the Man Who Made and Sus-
tained a Reputation as the Best Or
oanizer in France-Great Artillery
Expert-Prepared the Splendid De-
fense of Verdun. =,
France has a new marshal. the third
created since the war-Petain the VIC
tor of Verdun. whose extraordinary or
ganizing and tactical qualities, great
personality, and gift of inspiring un-
limited confidence in both officers and
men, writes the London correspondent
of the Christian Science Monitor. have
been generally recognized and appre-
ciated during the course Of the war.
Henri Philippe Benoni Petain is a
grave, tall son Of the Department OF
the Pas de Calais. He Is a native OF
Gauchy a la Tour, near Bethune. His
father was a husbandman, and moth
ing seemed specially to designate young
Henri Petain for a successful military
career. He entered the school OF St.
Cyr in 1875, when France was still
suffering from the wound inflicted up
on her by the annexation of Alsace-
Lorraine. Some years later he re-
ceiyed his commission as lieutenant In
the infantry, to which he has ever
since remained faithful. For seven
wears he served as lieutenant in re-
iment Of Chasseurs Alpins, becoming
CAPTAIN of the same regiment In 1880.
It is interesting to note that his chiefs
did not appreciate his remarkable tai
ents, and deliberately tried to retard
him in every way. Neither can 1t be
said of Petain that he benefited in any
way from fayoritism; he was only pro-
NOTED to captain when his chiefs
could no longer find any reason for de-
laying his advancement.
In 1902 he became professor at the
Superior Artillery school at Chalons,
where he definitely broke away from
the old official teaching, which the late
war has SO often proved defective He
defended his views as to the necessity
for intense artillery preparation be-
for attempting any infantry attacks
with such conviction that his supe-
riors, who were generally in favor OF
the traditional methods of warfare,
seized the earliest opportunity OF send
ing from their midst so embarrassing
and convincing an opponent OF their
theories. Petain, however, soon had
a splendid revenge. He was appointed
professor Of applied infantry tactics
at the Superior War school. and In
this new capacity he won the admira-
tion of his of1cial-pupils, and also
reputation for. original ideas quite op-
posed to the generally accepted official
methods. He e-then returned to his for
mer regiment, where he was warmly
welcomed by his men and fellow-of-
ficers. War found him stationed at
Arras, on the point Of retiring with
the rank Of colonel.
But now the wheel of Fortune re-
yolved rapidly, and in few months
time Marshal Petain had attained to
the highest rank in the military
sphere. Promoted brigadier at the be-
ginning of hostilities, he at once took
part in the most severe fighting. He
was at Charleroi, and a few weeks Ia
ter, having been placed in command
of a division of infantry, he succeeded
in restoring discipline, energy. and op-
timism to those men who having been
through the fighting at Charleroi and
at Guise, were absolutely demoralized
when he took them in hand. In the
different attacks which he led during
the battle of the Marne he applied his
long-cherished theory as to the ne
cessity for an intense artillery prepar-
alton, and in more than one case he
gave his men an example Of courage
when he saw them tagging or falling
back, placing himself unhesitatingly
at their head, under the most terrific
shell fire. Is it surprising that the
"poilus" should respect and love so
intrepid a chief? They never fail to
recognize his superiority, and are
proud to proclaim their confidence In
him on every possible occasion. "On
peut v aller! C'est de rouvrage Pc
tain" A simple phrase. Yet this con-
fidence in the thoroughness with which
their chief would have accomplished
his lob" reflects the faith he has in
spired in his troops, who secure IN
the knowledge that the powerful
pounding Of French guns had cleared
the way, rushed toward the German
lines with that Incompatible dash and
bravery which has always been char
acteristic Of the soldiers of France
In recognition of the invaluable ser
vices he rendered during this hrs'
phase Of the war, the French govern
ment named him commander or the
Legion of honor His work was men
toned in the official dispatches, which
stated that he organized with re-
markable method the attack on the
German position. and directed the same
with extreme energy, obtaining mag
nificent effort from the troops placed
under his command"
His successes in Artois will be re-
membered in the annals of the war
Under his extraordinary thorough and
competent direction the thirty-third
army corps captured all the reputeo
impregnable German lines and tooB
10000 prisoners. Petain became ma
ior-general, and was commander-in'
chief of the eleventh army. He ther
prepared the Champagne offense o.
october 1915, and the fine success
which resulted from the practical ap'
plication Of his theories designated hin
to be the defender of Verdun, where al
last he had a full opportunity Of re-
yealing his unique qualities both as
tactician and organizer.
When he took command Of the arm!
of verdun, at the request of Genera
de Castelnau the enemy held the VII
laee oP Douaumont Petain immediate