Evening star., 1939-10-01

ma. Gen. G1meltn, right, World War
A. P. Photos.
had. Like the British censor, he has
come in for some brickbats recently be-
cause of the policy Of keeping back all
but the barest essentials.
Another foreign office attache with an
extremely responsible position is Alexis
Leger, career man, who is permanent
general secretary. Leger probably more
than any one else actually runs the ma
chinery Of French diplomacy. AS under
secretary in this ministry Daladier ap-
pointed Champetier de Ribes, a Deputy
of the Catholic party.
Anatole de Monzie, minister of public
works, will of necessity shoulder a heavy
burden. Railways and roads come under
his division and the supplying of coal
and oil. Paul Reynaud, in the finance
ministry, must manage Frances currency
and credits. Georges Mandel, former
private secretary to Clemenceau, premier
during the last World War, has the task
as minister of colonies of holding the
colonial possessions of France during the
present conflict. Most of these men came
through the last war, many of them in
the fighting services. others in admiistra-
tive posts.
front-line fighter whose citations for
bravery read like war play is Daladier's
new undersecretary in the ministry OF
defense. This is Hippolyte Ducos,
Radical-Socialist Deputy. who gave up
school teaching to 60 into politics. He
was professor at the lycee in Toulouse
at the beginning of the last World War.
Five times he received serious wounds,
the last time in 1918, while resisting
with heroic effort and almost single
handed a German patrol. The govern
ment heaped on him all its honors and
in 1919 he was first elected Deputy
from his native Toulouse. Until Septem-
Der of this year he was undersecretary of
education in Daladier's cabinet. Prompt
ly the Premier moved him up to a place
where his wartime experience would be
Of the greatest value.
It was in the first World War that
Gamelin got a start toward his tower
ing reputation as military strategist
with more than a touch of genius.
Gamelin's father had been controller
general of the French Army in the time
of Napoleon III. AS a child he had lived
in house that was literally in the
shadow of the ministry of war on the
Boulevard St. Germain. He studied tao
tics under 1t. Col. Foch, who was later
70 hA cho1 of oVI of
the armies that repelled the Germans in
1918.
Trusted Adviser Of Joffre.
His closest association during the first
World War, however, was with Gen.
Joffre. In 1906 he was made orderly
officer to Joffre, who then commanded
the 9Th Infantry Division in Paris. When
Joffre was promoted to the Supreme War
Council in 1912, Gamelin was made his
military secretary. As part of his job
Gamelin made thorough study of
possible attack on France by Germany
through Belgium. An authority on this
phase of French defense, Gamelin gave
Joffre all-important counsel when the
German Army menaced Paris in Sep
tember of 1914.
Quiet, self-effacing, Gamelin since the
war has paid strict attention to his job.
In 1919 he headed French military mis-
sion to Brazil and remained there until
1925, when he was recalled to help put
down the Druse revolt in Syria. In
1881 he was made chief of staff, and in
1885 he was named second in command
of the Supreme War Council, with q
rank Immediately below that of the
minister of defense.
It is said that Gamelin owes his skill
as strategist In no small part to his
passion for maps and mapmaking and
his modest efforts as q landscape artist.
A profound student Of Napoleon, the re-
port is that he can say from memory
every order to the army that the Little
Corporal ever issued-a prodigious feat.
In Paris he shuns formal society, spend
ing Internationally long hours at his
desk in the war office. He and his wife
are rarely seen at the snowy gatherings
at which smart Paris displays itself.
How much the outcome of the war de-
pends on this scholarly soldier, who at
the age Of 66 is 50 utterly devoid of mill
tary swank. 1t is impossible to say. But
certainly for the moment he takes rank
above the harried politicians who make
up the government. His word is the
law Of France for the time being. Armies
move on his decision, and the mass Of
the French people look to him for their
security. Gamelin and Daladier seem to
gether well In their hands is the future
o6 France.