MARSHAL FAYOLLE’S TOMB

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1928, Page 7

MARSHAL FAYOLLE’S TOMB

LEADER IX Til 1C GREAT WAR

Carried on a gun-carriage and tv, cortcil I)y lour marshals ol firaiicc Eoch, Retain, Franeliet d’E-sprcy, and Lyautey—the body <d' .Marshal 1< ayolle. who died in August, was conveyed to the lnvalides, where, alter a iuneral service in the chapel, it was lowered to rest in the ie.ry.pt. Henceforward. according to the terms of a 'Bill which wili he suhmitteu next session of the Chamber of Deputies, the hollies of all French marshal and generals who took command-in-ch ief before the enemy are to he interred in the crypt of the lnvalides, i few paces from the tomb of Napoleon. The whole garrison of Paris either ma,relied behind the coffin or lined the streets. .Marshal Fayoll-e in 19.18 had a. large niimher of British troops, under his direct command. Kmil Fa voile was horn at Be Puy in May, 1852. In 1878 he became an artillery officer, later joined the general staff, and then taught in the artillery section! of the F.cole do Guerre. .His work there had considerable influence on the development of the French artillery and its tactics, His methods are set forth in his book, “ Concentration of Fire and of Strength,” published in 1918. It was Fayolle w-ho first warned France of the great developments in the German heavy artillery.

Fayolles’ career seemed to bo ovc when in May, 191-1, be retired to Cler-mont-Ferrand ns a brigadier-general on the retired list. But the war soon recalled him to service, first as commander of the 139th Infantry Brigade and then of the 70th Division, at the head of which he succedcd in checking the German advance in .Lorraine. Then for 15 months his division was on the left wing of the French forces, where, in May, 1915. he achieves successes at Cavenzy and Ablain St. Nnzaire, after which ho was put in command of the 33rd Army Corps on the ftnuclic/. and Vnny front. In February, 1915. Fayolle toolc over the stb Army, which played a decisive part in the battle of the Somme capturing a number of positions. In spring. 1917. as Uader of the Ist Army lie prepared a, great attack at Noyon which, in consequence of the withdrawal of the Germans to the Hindcnhurg Line, was not carried out. I‘ ayolle sueecded Pctaiu in May. 1917. as leader of the army group in the centre, and in Octoiler of that year lie was sent, to Italy with an auxiliary force which captured the commanding position of Monte Toinha and thus contributed to the restoration of the Italian front. Fayolle then returned to France and took comm and of the great, “mass of manoeuvre,” which Foeli had organised behind the Anglo-French front in the spring of 1918. In that capacity ho wins successful in restoring the liaic/)n between the British nnd French fronts which had been broken by the great German attack of March 21. 1918. after which as leader of an army group he look part, in the great Allied offensive .(Luring the summer which led to the collapse of the German arm-

On December 9, 1918, Fayolle entered Mainz at the head of his victorious troops, re,ma Suing there till November, 1919. in command of the French \rmy of the Rhine. He then returned to France and became a mem her of the Supreme War Council. In February, 1920. he was made a Marshal of France.