The Bismarck tribune., 1929-03-23
FRENCH WORLD war
GENERAL, DEFENDER
OF VERDUN, IS DEAD
Man Who Bombarded Damas.
cus,' General Sarrail, Gained
Fame at Battle Of Marne

Paris. March 23-F)-Reports
were received in Paris today tha,
General Maurice Emmanuel Sarrail
one-time defender Of vcrdun' and
former high commissioner In Syria
died today at the age of 70.
General Sarrail, who commanded
the Third French army at the first
battle of the Marne and was dec
Grated with the military medal for
his courage and tenacity in holding
Verdun and the heights of the Meuse
died this afternoon just three days
after his chief, Marshal Foch.
The general had been Ill for three
weeks suffering from liver trouble
which became serious on the very day
that Marshal Foch died.
General Sarrail perhaps was best
known as "the man who bombarded
Damascus" and for his share In the
Druse rebellion.
His record before vcrdun at the
head Of the Third French Army dur
ing the Battle Of the Marne and in
1917 as commander -in-chief Of the
Allied troops in the Balkans was over
shadowed before the world at large
BY his activities as French High Com
missioner to Syria in 1925. Even in
France people spoke Of him as "Sar-
rail Of Damascus"
He acquired liking for the politi-
cal life while military commander of
the Chamber OF Deputies from 1902
to 1904. Since then he was PROM
inent in the councils of the radical
party. A staunch man of the "lefts."
he was twice candidate for parlia-
ment and defeated both times. He
was placed on the retired list as a
general of division by the nationalist
government OF Clemenceau in 1918.
Ordered to Syria
When the radical party came into
power with Herriot in 1924, Sarrail
was appointed High Commissioner to
Syria. replacing General Weygand,
whose policies were unacceptable to
the radicals. The new High Commits
sioner. q free thinker, refused to at
tend the religious ceremony given in
his honor at Beirut by the Catholic
clergy Of Syria and thereby incurred
the enmity of that party.
Catholics called to high posts and
decorated with the cravat Of the Le-
gion of Honor by Weygand were flung
into jail by his successor and in some
instances the cravat of the Legion OF
Honor around their neckS vas re-
placed by rope of hemp as they
swung from the scaffolds. Syria soon
was In turmoil. which developed into
rebellion. the bombardment Of Da-
mascus, and Sarrail's retirement.
Maurice Paul Emmanuel Sarrail
was born at Carcassonne, April 6.
1856. At the age Of so he was mar
rled in Salonica. his bride being a
French nurse. They had two chill
dren.
Shelled Kebelli0us City
AS High Commissioner of SYRIA
General Sarrail's refusal to receive
the delegates Of the Druses, asking
for the removal of the governor Of
their province, sent that warlike tribe |
into open rebellion. Then came the |
disaster to the column of General |
Michaud marching upon Soueida,
when the French lost more than 1000 |
Killed. and the entire French army
AAOpCA cCOs
Sarrail had made his headquarters
IN Damascus and tried to smooth over
the difficulties with the Arabs by
diplomacy. When the city went on
open rebellion during his absence. the
Commissioner upon his return, i'm
mediately gave orders to shell the
quarter held by the rebels. The bonn
0ardment lasted nearly two davs Tho L
rebels claimed more than 500. includ.
ng women and children. were killed. i
Sarrail's official reports placed the
lead at Is.
The bonlbardment created a sensa-
ion. Meanwhile Herriot had been
'verthrown and Premier BRAND, who
had replaced him, recalled Sarrail.
The latter appeared before the mill
ary committee Of the Chamber and
presented his own defense. No action
vas taken and since then Sarrail
ived in retirement.