Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-09-17

Wharf.-The great destroyer-serves at
least one constructive end 1t is the
basis upon which have been built the
great military and naval regulations of
| history.
| Names like Foch Pershing, Petain
Joffe, Won Hindenburg, Won Ludendorf,
Beatty and Jellico were hardly known
| except in their own professional and po-
| litical circles before the World War. Now
| they are familiar to every schoolboy.
At the outset of this second great war,
| the question naturally arises: What great
| regulations will it yield to history? The
| answer will be found only in the ebb and
| flow of military and naval fortunes as
| the conflict progresses. But even now
certain personalities can be singled out
as probably marked for fame.
Central figure of the military and naval
leader now in the field is small, wiry
taciturn Frenchman who enjoys, alone
with Napoleon I, the all-embracing title
of supreme commander of all French
armed forces" which gives him domain
over sea and air as well as land fighters.
Upon the narrow shoulders of Gen.
Maurice Gustave Gamelin rests the re-
sponsibility for smashing Germanys al
most impregnable Siegfried line, or
WestWall," If the Anglo French forces
are to carry the war on land into Ger
many. In attempting this, he enjoys
the advantage of a unified command of
both French and British land and air
forces a situation that was not estab-
lished in the World War until its last
year. when Marshal Foch was given a
similar post
Supreme Authority on Tactics.
Gen. Gamelin, now 66, is known to
military men throughout the world as
probably the greatest living authority on
tactics. This reputation traces back to
the early days of the World War, when,
as tactical adviser to Marshal Foch, he
was quick to realize that Won Klucks
LIST German Army, then sweeping toward
Paris had made an error in judgment
and exposed its flank. Upon his advice,
Foch gave the order for French attack
which turned the German tide.
A graduate of the famous French mill
tary academy, st. Cyr Gamelin finished
there in 1893 with high 'honors. After
decade of typical army service he was
sent to the War College, where he stud
led under Foch, being graduated in 1902.
From his youth, Gamelin had an avid
interest in maps. not only studying but
making them. During these years in the
War College this interest bore fruit in
the form of an outstanding ability to
understand and analyZe tactical prob
lens. His reputation in this field spread
rapidly in the upper circles of the French
Army.
When, in 1912, Papa COTE was ele-
waited to the Supreme War Council. he
chose Gamelin as his chef de cabinet.
1t was a rare opportunity for the young
officer to make contacts among the
ranking generals of the French Army.
During the World War, Gamelin, with
the rank of brigadier general, headed
the 9th Division, which was instru-
mental in stopping the great German
offensive in the spring of 1918, the last
chance of the central powers to achieve
a smashing victory. From that time on
the fortunes of war turned against them.
Gamelln emerged from the war as
marked man" among the younger
French generals
Helped Build Maginot Line.
His postwar progress in the French
Army was steady rather than brilliant.
In 1919 he headed French Army mis-
sion to build up the Brazilian Army. Six
years later he was in the thick of fight
ing again, in command of the French