El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-10-27
Mystery OF NiOeTe Failure OF 1917 At Last ReOeaIed
Commander In Chance To Carry OutPlan

NEW YORK. Oct 27.-speaking in
~ the French chamber. the other
day. Il Painleve, who preceded
Ciemenceau as president OF the coun-
Gil and thus prime minister Of France
and had been minister OF war in the
RIbot cabinet and minister OF inven-
lions Of the BRAND cabinet. made a
sensational statement OF the truth
concerning the Nivelle failure Of 1917,
which resulted In me temporary dis
organisation Of the French army. the
summary removal Of NiveIle and a
long political and military eontro-
versv.
II was alleged BY Nivelle's friends
and the story was published Irsr
in America, that French politicians
rad become panic stric "a az the
losses incurred By Nivele Ia The first
tive days Of his operations and mat
these politicians. members OF the
French chamber OF deputies, sue
ceeded in having the attack stopped
and Niveile removed at the precise
moment when the German lines " ere
crumbling and a suprms victory was
in sight Il was further argued that
Nirelle was HANDICAPPED by some fall
ure OF sir Douglas Haig, the British
commandments TO cooperate with
Haig Not at Fault.
The story was probably the most
sensational IN the whole history OF
military operations during the war.
consequently. when went 70 france.
last winter, 7 sought eagerly TO find
out exactly what had occurred As
10 any failure on the part Of sir
Douglas Haig, the story seemed IN
hereutly inaccurate because IN Feb
ruaury. 1917. I lunched with the Brit
a-n- . q Harr1 5Irr : ~ q
aIcatreuu sur-Mer and at tha1 time
he spoke OF Nivelle, who had only
recently taken over command. with
real enthusiasm and IN tones which
revealed his entire sympathy win
Nfvelle's known Determination 70
abandon Joffre's "nIbbling" and IN
dertake real aggressive campaign
Through the courtesy OF certain
French friends was able 70 make a
careful and satisfactory exam nation
Of the stil secret documents and 1acls
In the Neville case and TO talk with
rrsn who were both informed and
entirely reliable The results Of the
Investigate which are 10 longer
subject 10 restraint since Il RainleFe
and Il BRAND have opened the sub
sect IN the French parliament. now
present TO my readers and ny impress
sion is thar they have never hitherto
been printed in fun either IN the
United States or France.
WORLD Looked 10 Fefain.
Thu circumstances which. LED %
Nivelle's selection were unusual It
had become clear that Joftre must 20.
following the comparative failure OF
that Samme campaign Of 1915. on
which BRAND who as prime minister
sunnorted Toffra against attack. had
denended TO supply the necessary VIC !
tory and To restore Iolfre's shaken
urestiee The natural choice was
Petsin. and the world not unreason- I
ably expected frat the saviour OF /
Verdun would succeed the victory q I
the Marne.
But getting rid Of Joffre was no
easy matter. the ministry was ex-
ceedinz1v fearful about It and TO re-
Mace Joffre by Petain meant 70 ADD 4
insult to injury for Chantlly. that IS 4
French G. H O. had seen the rise I
Of the new nan with natural = cen
sirrable heart burninEs. The removal /
Of Joffre promised TO be far easier.
If the selection OF a successor did not /
put Petain 81 his old CHIEFS place.
IN addition. Fetsin. desnlte HIS
great Qualities has more than q sug-
Eestl5n about him OF our Cen Sher-
rrsu. He has a sharp tonEue and
desnfta his hahftuai f7citurnifV-. has
said things about politicians. French
and forairu and about soldiers French
and allied. which are not unlike the
famous and caustic comment o.