The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-01-06
FOCR HAS ALWAYS
BEEN VICTORIOUS
Served His Country With Love,
With ArdOr and
Felicity.
FRANCE HAS GREAT LEADERS
Marshal of France Is Wonderful
Title and Most of Those Who
Have Held Baton Have Been
Wonderful Men.

L
calls up such heroic memories as that
of marshal of France? 1t is Won
-derful title and most of those who
have held the baton were more than
wonderful men. In every other army
field marshal Is grade, but the
French army has no field marshal;
it has simply the title of marshal Of
France. The regulations of the
French army prescribe that the title
OF "marechnl de France is not a
grade, but an honor. This expresses
all military excellence in general,
who does not outrank his colleagues,
but who by some deed or deeds has
brought particular distinction on him.
self or his armies.
The first battle of the Marine was
the reason why General Joffre became
a ''marechal de France" Today there
are only three ''marechals'' in all
France--,Joffre, Foch and Petain. The
marvellous strategy of Foch stands out
more clearly every day. Napoleon
had many "marcchals," all of them
prodigies Of valor and some of genius
-MasSena, Lannes, Soult, Murat. Ney
and others. The emperor made them
either dukes or princes or both. and
sometimes kings. But with I'LL their
glory l doubt If any one Of them has
rendered such signal service TO their
country-certainly not to humanity
as have .Joffre and Foch.
Gallieni's Great Feat.
General Gallleni, the fomner gov
ernor Of Paris, would have been made
Il "marechal" had he only lived long
enough to receive the honor due him.
IL would be beautiful Idea if the
government Of the French republic
created him a marechal even now, and
inscribed on his tomb: "Gallieni died
in the service of his country. General
de Divison-Marechal de France II
might not do the general any good, but
Ii would please the army and the en-
tire country, while 1t would render
justice TO an immortal name and
would be a fitting tribute to great
and good soldier. though whether they
call him general or marshal or drum
major makes little difference. Gal
lieni's name rests secure In his 30.word
proclamation and in safekeeping of
? 100000 free Frenchmen. for whom
he did more than any other one man
TO retain their liberty at a critical
time He will live forever in the
heart OF the French "pollu." He was
too good soldier to ask anything
better than that.
Joffre Won at the Marine.
Marshals Joffre and Foch, as the
world knows, are also great soldiers
For three long years Joffre wthStood
the fearful onslaught. He never nun.
INJURED, though he had terrible diff
culties to endure. He husbanded hi,
snail armies while we prepared ours
When his task was done and the bat
tie of the Marine gained. JofIre retired
from activity with the great honor he
had hardly won.
Foch has always been victorious
lie has served his country with love
with ardor and felicity. To his fin,
character he adds great ability. III,
has been preceded by list of names
which have illuminated the history OF
France and mankind during the cen
turtles. He commands the greatest
armies ever commanded by one man
He has the respect Of those armies
.hc has even forced the enemy to re
snect him, and then sent him down I,
complete defeat. What more cou,
man do. He has his title of "marecha
dc France fairly won. Remember ~
is not n grade, but an honor" 1t /,
great thing TO be 'marechal Il,
France"