New Britain herald., 1925-05-22
EARL OF YPRES
 DIES IN ENGLAND
Famous War General Passes
 Away at Home in Deal

Marshal French. British world war hero. died here today, aged 73.
 Tho Earl Of Ypres underwent an operation on March i9 He was re- ported to be recovering but later his condition became worse.
 Rising to the highest places and honors in British military circles. the Earl of Ypres often was char acterized Us "the luckiest man in tho army" and French luck became almost proverbial among the Brit iah soldiers. Later events, however, caused a difference Of opinion as to whether the luck had been on the soldiers sido or on that of the Brit ish army and the British empire.
 Perhaps the most important event of his career which had 10 do with these two ideas was the historic bat tic of Ypres in the World War, the winning of which barred the chan nel ports from the Germans and sav- ed England from probable invasion. It was at Ypres that the Germans first resorted 10 their deadly gas at- tacks, a form of warfare that i'm pelled the British commander 10 de- pIoro the fact that an army would stoop SO low
 What was termed the earl's big gcst piece of sheer luck occurred in 1895 when the British military au- thonties decided to revise the cav airy drill book as a prelude to re- organization of the mounted arm. At that time he was Colonel French, on the retired list al half pay and had been for two years, having been shelved at the age of Al to give younger men q chance for promo lion. Ills career apparently was ended.
 It happened that the inspector general of cavalry was Sir George Luck, under whom French had served in India. where he performed brilliantly in bringing cavalry com- mands up 10 q high point of eff ciency. Sir George had not forgot ten that service and brought Colonel French out Of retirement 10 write the new cavalry book, The result was characterized as "a masterpiece Of lucid explanation and tcrse pre- cison' Then the question arose as 10 who was to carry out the sItcra-l tions called for in the book Some answered the one who suggested them" French was made assistant credcd 10 climb upward to the com mand Of the first 100000 British sol dicrs who met the first terrific on- saughts Of ihe Germans in tho adiutant general of cavalry and pro- NorId war.
 In tho meantime French had made extensive reforms and was given command of a cavalry bri- gade. In the maneLVers Of 1928 he attracted the attention ot the entire British army. In these, through eX- traordinarily daring operations, he completely baiiled his opponent, q general using methods which had been regarded as efficient and neCes sary until Frcnch's genius made them antquated French became major general 'the next year,
 The Bocr war was to French only another opportunity to show the aldlty Which the British military authorities had sheived seven years before He was given the chief cavalry command and In numerous opera tious he proved himself both great strategist and superior tactIriau. l!c was mentioned i'll many dispatches and went back 10 l,l it 10 pI nf he n b, knightcd and given the command ot all ihe troops at AIdershot with the rank of lieutenant general.
 In 1907 French Was appointed in- spoctor general Of the forces and five years later he was made chief of the imperial general staff. lie VAS made q field mrshaI in lpl% and ss such went 10 France at inc beginning Of the World var as commander in chief of the cxpr- ditionary forces. Here again he displayed his extraordinary ability as 4 military leader. He was, in way. responsible for the change in the British cabinet resulting in the creation of the ministry of nut
 
 Premier Lloyd George succeeded iu awakening the mun,tlons manufac- turcrs 10 the necessity of rsllsing To the all uf the soldiers in the Hold
 In the carly engagements in Trance, Frerch's army was outnum- bored hy the enemy and short of high explosives to halt the German advance. To the latter was attri- huted the necessity for the strategic retreat from Mons. in which he lsrdl"d the Foreiy tried British army in mastery fashion. Later with I,hoo, GOO men under his com mand he scored his great victory at Nprea.
 Reporting on his operations the field marshal wrote: "1'he glorious troops under my command had gone Naliantly to their drath when q few mre guns and few more shells would have many times saved their sacrifice. And still no sufficient sup plies came" CriticizcI at home for permitting the Germans almost inn prcgnably 10 cntrcnch themselves, French became involved in a con trocerSy with Lord Kitchener, lis former South African commander then secretary of stato for war The late Lord Northclt'n made a visit 10 the British front and upor his return bluntly told the facts ot the shell shortage. It was then that inc change in the cabinet WIS mado with the result that the factories speedcd up and turned out an i'm mense amount Of shells and other war implements.