The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-22
BY w. B. MCCORMICK.

Field Marshal Viscount French of Ypres
in his narrative of the British Expedition
airy Force while he was its commander
in chief. "Many volumes have been pub
lished with this object They have ap-
peared in many countries and in many
languages. A few have seemed to me to
be wonderfully accurate accounts, consld-
ering the great difficulty of arriving at
the truth long before the time when full
and authentic material can possibly be
available. All have had in my mind in
writing this book is to explain, so far as
l can, my own part throughout these
events in carrying out the responsible
task entrusted to me by my country; the
aspect in which the situation presented
itself in my mind from day to day, and
my reasons for the decisions which guided
the action of the troops under my COM
mand"
Now, in spite Of this modest disclaimer,
1914, as his volume is simply styled, Wis
count French has written history, a tale
that only he could write, and one which,
in the passing of the years, will grow in
importance. For in the clear and forth
right expressions of soldier with which
these pages are filed the reader Of the
present and future will find the truth
about some episodes in British internal
politics in the first year Of the great war
that are not at all TO her credit and about
which there has been much confusion,
gossip and misunderstanding. In add
ton to this the text reveals to us what
clear insight into German strategy Wis
count French had at the very beginning
Of hostilities; how lie mastered it; how
cheerfully he admitted British military
mems shortsightedness regarding modern
weapons, such as machine guns; how
hampered he was by the shortage Of mu-
nitions; how Lord Kitchener tried to d.
rect French's campaign from London, aid
ed and abetted by the politicians; and,
lastly, how very agreeable Viseount
French's relations were with the French
except in one or two instances, thus put
ting the quietus on the early wartime Cos
sip Of the antagonisms existing between
the two armies.
The Field Marshal does not do for the
British Expeditionary Force what Jellicoe
did for the British navy in his book. The
soldiers plan and purposes were con-
fined to a smaller compass, and more
personal ono. Nevertheless 1914 Is q
distinct addition to the list of books Of
the world war for civilization since it
gives us facts about matters heretofore
clouded by politics or grossly prejudiced
reporting.
French begins his narrative with his ap-
pointment as commanding General of the
b. E. F. in the first week of August, 1914,
the establishment of the headquarters in
London, and the differences of opinion
among Kitchener, Haig and himself as
to the area of concentration for the Brit
ish troops in France, a tentative scheme
for which had long been agreed upon by
the British and French military authori-
ties in the event Of such a war as was
then breaking on the world. French was
for the original plan, which was prac-
tically followed out, and Kitchener and
Haig against it. French had believed for
years that Germany would attack France
through Belgium and was rather impa-
tient over Belgiums refusal ''to decide
upon an attitude in the event of a gen.
aral varv He corfpSSps his whole idea
of such a war would be one of manGuvre
Of movement, and that he never envisaged
such thing as the war of positions which
resulted after the Allies drove the Ger
mans back from the Marine.
at is easy to be wise after the event.
he writes, "but 1 cannot help wondering
why none of US realized what the most
modern rifle, the machine gun, motor trac'
finn the airnlanes and wireless telegraphy