STRATEGY OF THE FRENCH COMMANDER

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2257, 17 September 1914, Page 6

STRATEGY OF THE FRENCH COMMANDER

VALUE OF HUMAN FACTOR IN WAR' . WHY THE GERMANS WERE LURED ON ' PariSj September 15. . General ■ Joffre (French Commander-■in-OJiief) is quoted as remarking that ~ there are two methods of making 'war, one being to - employ ■ troops iu masses, tho .other'to fight in extended order. iLhe former was the Germans' method. It was immensely costly in Jife. However, the Germans can afford to prac..tice it, for two reasons—first, the im- ; mense superiority of her numbers, and second, the Germans are disciplined to , such a degree of animal, unreasoning, mechanical obedience that they fight best when closely held together under their officers' personal command. Oil tho other hand,: to fight in expended order is the-.French way. In accordance with their temperament, the French do not light well wedged together like bricks in a wall; the French- , man is never at his b&st unless allowed a littlo personal initiative. He becomes impatient under constant command , and mechanical discipline. General J olfro emphasised the point that in order to defeat troops in mass ■ ■■with troops fighting in extended order ■; they must light on a- battlefield that is limited, by strong fortresses supporting the extended lines, and must limit his. front; This is what he has done. He led the Germans on his retreat from tho Belgian frontier to a battleground of his own choosing. The enemy s pre- . sent retreat showß the success of his •strategy. ' LONDON STOCK EXGHANCE. ANXIOUS TO AVOID GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE. ; London, September 15. The "Financial News" says it is understood that tho Stock Exchange loan account amounts to eighty millions, of j which half the loans are from clearinghouse banks, twenty millions from other banks, and the rest from trust companies and other institutions. The Stock Exchange is anxious to ' avoid'a Government guarantee. The committee and Mr. Lloyd George (Chancellor, of the ; Exchequer) discussed a proposal that the end of July settle- : inent should be taken on a basis of three percentum taken off gilt-edged securi-ties,-five per centum off honie railroads and kindred securities, and ten per cent, off more speculative stocks. Members will be asked to meet their differences on this basis. Tho balance will be' carried forward for three or six months, or longer.. v