The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-24

\ interest, IT Is different with French
| correspondents They regard a re-
/ ception by the general commanding
/ any forces they happen to be visiting
: as not only most important. but a
/ large feature of their story.
About az general usually says Is
a lot OF platttudes. and while every
man was delighted at an opportunity
OF tust seeing Foth close up, that In
81 81, -.,s. e.. 70 -
|, f'geneh correspondents would have
expected to hear and undoubtedly
would have heard from an American
general. Platitudes are an old game
over here. Wherefore. when the
grizZled marshal of France made that
! declaration which is detailed else
where in these columns. II caused
quite a stir among the newspaper
men.
Arranged for Tinlburg.
Originally the interview had been
arranged for 1dnburg. where Foch
maintains headquarters. but he had
TO so to Trier 10 meet with mem bers
Of the American commission there
some of us went by train and some
by motor from Coblenz over muddy
roads. for damp. disagreeable weather
has come to Rhenish Prussia.
Trler, itself, Is unutterably muddy
and depressing al this period. Lieu
tenant Du lessen had gone down the
night before. and he met US fairly
efferN erscing. Everything was alright.
he said The marshal would see us.
Up TO this moment we had thought
everything was assured anyhow, but
It seems pu lessen had been in doubt
One never knows about marshals. But
he had just been over to the train.
We could go there as soon as the
marshal had finished luncheon.
Presently We filed off down the
road. Du lessen at our head like a
troops commander, and CHANGING
back nerVously every minute TO see
that nobody strayed away? One
never knows any more about Ameri-
can correspondents than about mar
shals- In good order we arrived at
the train. 1t was solid train of
sleeping cars of French manufacture.
Through the windows we could see
little rooms fitted with desk telc-
phones with French officers laboring
! diligently. Elaborately uniformed
aides strolled along side the train.
Here and there were French sentries
in steel helmets. Du lessen said
after an investigation that the mar
shall was Just finishing his coffee. so
We whiled away the time hobnobbing
with Ed hurley. chairman of the
I american shipping board; Admiral
! Benson. and a few other odds and
ends of notables. who had a private
/ car on the track, having come there
/ for a conference
! Soon Lieutenant du lessen was seen
! wildly waving from the platform of
! the car. and We fastened there He
vanished inside and we followed.
/ The Marshal of France
The marshal OF France stood by a
5 = In h.t n i've,
and 1t was a good sized room, too. for
! Il railroad car. 1t was furnished witt
/ a couple of plain mahogany tables.
! evidently designed for working pur -
| poses. There was telephone on one
table,
Du lessen called out each mans
! name and organization as he entered.
Each man Saluted. then shook hands
with the General.
K Then they had chance for a baci,
survey Of the marshal, They SAW q
| Solidly constructed Old man OF not
quite medium height. but giving III.
impression, despite his manifest age
Of great bodily strength and activity
Tic has quite shock of gray hair
He wears big gray mustache with 4
ana II hides most OF his mouth excep
when il is lifted in a smile. He
smiles frequently. His face is heavily
lined. There are many crows fee
around his pleasant eyes
hu Tes$en took us to 500 Genera
Mangin nat long ago. Mangjr is even
ishorter than Foch, hut physically more
| Impressive, lie ra1iates virility lie
is of tho peppcry type. Foch seems
more deliberate. Again. Du lesser
took this writer to ser General Schuy-
Ter. the Aisatian, about the size OF
Kenny kauG. who commands the
great Algerian division. Schuyler is
different from either Foch or Man.
gin He's tvinkIing sort of man
but beneath the twink c ayou always
catch a CLINT of fierCeness None o.
the three frenchmen are as imposina
physically IS rerShng or some other
American generals who might b.
named but all three convey to yot