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Updated: April 30, 2025
After the immortal stand of Joffre at the first battle of the Marne and the sudden savage thrust at the German center which sent von Kluck and his men reeling back in retreat to the prepared defenses along the line of the Aisne, the war in the western theater resolved itself into a play for position from deep intrenchments.
From Alsace, after a reorganization of the French plan of attack, he came to the left centre and took part in the councils of war, where General Joffre was glad of this shrewd old comrade and gallant heart.
To this end, in numberless secteurs along the front, special narrow-gauge railroad lines have been built directly from the railroad station at the edge of the shell zone to the artillery positions. To this end the trenches have been gathered into a special telephone system so that General Joffre at Chantilly can talk to any officers or soldiers anywhere along the great swathe.
The thing that is a commonplace, when you are about to lose it takes on a cherished value. To-morrow the German guns might be thundering in front of the fortifications. The communiqués from Joffre became less frequent and more laconic.
They retired immediately to rest, for General Joffre had left word that he would postpone his interview with them until the morrow. Bright and early the next morning, however, the lads were admitted to his presence. "This," said the French commander, placing a paper in Hal's hands, "is an important communication for the French prime minister.
The third part of the defensive prepared by General Joffre was that of a determination to turn the steady retreat into a counterdrive. Time after time had the other generals implored their leader to give them leave to take the offensive, and on every occasion a shake of the head had been the reply. Sir John French had wondered.
Hal and Chester followed the aide to the general's tent, where he stood back and motioned for them to enter. Inside stood General Joffre, surrounded by members of his staff. He motioned for the lads to approach, which they did, and came to attention. The general greeted them warmly. "I am glad to see you again," he said.
With true German scientific instinct he had to find his defeat in a physical cause, remarking, "It was fortunate for you that your first shot took away my speaking tubes." The English are sports in war, too sporty in fact. General Joffre warned General French over and over again, "Your officers are too audacious; you will soon have none to command," and his words proved true.
Is any greater contrast possible than between so implacable, patient, reasonable and above all things capable a being as General Joffre and the rhetorician of Potsdam, with his talk of German Might, of Hammer Blows and Hacking Through? Can there be any doubt of the ultimate issue between them? There are stories that sound pleasantly true to me about General Joffre's ambitions after the war.
She had been with her father, the erstwhile Colonel of a line regiment, and a specialist in strategy, who for the pure love of the thing had laboriously gained permission to stay at Meaux and visit the famous battlefields of the Marne. She said they had been in the very room where General Joffre met Field-Marshal French, and had bought the very teapot in which their tea was brewed.
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