The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-31
JOFFRE HAILED
AS SAVIOR OF
HIS HOMELAND
Marine Triumph Attributed
to Papa and Potency of
French Wine.
DRINK ROUTED GERMANS
Invaders Wild ReveIs on
Road to Paris Helped
in Their Defeat.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMS
ScripDs-H oward Foreign Editor

d. WILLIAM PHILLIP SIMS
ScripDs-Howard Foreign Editor
Marshal Joffre and the bubble
water of France saved the allies
from defeat the first year of the
war.
The world has heard plenty of the
brilliant, rapier-like Marshal Foch
and how he won the war in 1918,
but altogether too little of that
equally great hero, the dreamy
eyed, Stolid PA" Joffre, now near
death, who won it in 1914.
Foch just as surely would have
lost the war in 1914, had he been
generalissimo then, as Joffre would
have lost it in 1918 had he retained
command. Surely the saints must
have been looking after France and
her allies for things to have been
arranged the way they were.
When the conflict suddenly burst
upon Europe in 1914, France was
terribly unprepared She had no
modern artillery to speak of, except
that marvellous 75-millimter field
gun OF hers, and very little am
munitlon. Also she had just changed
her conscript system, for the time
being demoralizing her army.
Faced Mighty Foe
All told, Joffre had under him at
| the outbreak of the war only COG. 900
half-trained, poorly equipped sol
| d1erS to throw into the field against
GermanyS standing army of SOC, 600
storm troops, which were instantly
expanded to 100000, with 1900, 1000
landwehr within easy reach. The
Germany heavy artillery was the
most efficient in the world
1t was this mighty military ma
chine which battered its way south
ward into France, along routes de-
cided upon long in advance, toward
Paris. The thin lines which Joffre
at first was able to fling in front of
the invaders were hardly more eff
fective than PROSTATE bodies in the
path of an advancing juggernaut.
They delayed the march little, but
that was all.
Back and still farther back the
body -racking, heart breaking re-
treat continued, day after day.
France, bundle of nerves worn
raw, watched with sinking heart.
Was the story of 1870 to be repeat
ed? the people asked. Was the kaiser
to make this war, too, just big
parade to Paris, where, according to
rumor, he had already ordered din
ner?
CIamored for Battle
Why didn't Joffre fight back!
Why so little news from the front?
And why did each meager COM
munique tell only of falling back,
nearer and nearer Paris? Had
Joffre no spirit? Stop and fight was
the cry that went up all over the
country. Stop and fight, even if
you lose. At least make the Ger
mans pay for their victory.
But Joffre kept on retreating,
without offering more than a rear
guard resistance.
"I1l not sacrifice my men for
nothing" he told official messengers
from Paris. 60 ahead and move
the seat of government to Bordeaux
if you like, for I shall go on re-
treating, to the Pyrennes if neces-
sary.
IF can help it there will be no
decisive battle until I see a chance
Of victory" But meantime he kept
on bringing up reserves.
On Sept. the French army's left
pivoted on Paris, the center sagged
below the Marine, and the right,
draped over the fortress at Verdun,
terminated at the Swiss border. The
Germans had advanced so rapidly
they were ahead Of supplies. They
had even outStripped some of their
artillery.
Wire Aided in Rout
THE hour had GOMEZ" Joffre
ordered that day, and the battle of
the Marine was on. Gen. Ferdinand
Foch, commanding the French
center, carried the day there and
victory soon perched upon the allied
0dA41C1
Had another than JofTre been in
supreme command at the time, or
another than Foch been at the key
position on the Marine, the story
might have been different. think
it would.
was with the French as they
followed the retreating Germans
northward across the Marne and on
to Rheims and the Aisne. That
country, of course, is labyrinth of
wine cellars, and ordinarily these are
filled chuck-a- block with the choic-
est wines and brandies,
But everywhere stopped I heard
the same story. There was no wine
left. The Germans had drunk it
all. There had been high old times
as the kaiSer's victorious legions
had rollicked southwark toward
Paris-wild parties and much toast
ing and clinking of glasses. I saw
champagne and liquor bottles
strewn for miles along the roads
and all over the fields. -
So it has always seemed to me
that the Miracle of the Marne'
was nothing more nor less than the
spirit of France symbolized by
Papa" Joffre, on the one hand, and
the iridescent mist above bubbling
amber in delicate, -stemmed
glasses on the other.
Abused, the spirit struck back, I'M
steadying the hand and tangling
the feet of the invaders, until,
beaten. they fell back.
Capital Divorces Doubled