GENERAL FRENCH IN COMMAND

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 696, 19 August 1914, Page 5

GENERAL FRENCH IN COMMAND

KITCHENER'S CHARACTERISTIC METHODS By Telegraph—Extraordinary' Press Received this day, 9 a.m. London, Tuesday The despatch of the expeditionary force was carried out with remarkable secrecy and success, and was highly characteristic of Kitchener's methods. The troops were silently collected and the driver? of the troop trains only received theiir instructions as the trains started . Sir Douglas Craig commands the First Corps and Sir W. Pulteney the Third Sir Archibald Murray ia Chief of General French's staff_ General French crossed on Friday night. He had a great reception at Paris, wnere he conferred with the Ministers

DETAILS OF TRANSPORTATION AN UNFORGOTTEN LESSON Received this day, 9 a.m. London, Tuesday Tne only hints given the public of the approaching departure of the troops were visits of General French and other generals to Buckingham Palace and Marlborough House; the King's visit to Aldershot, and the Queen's visit to Tidworlh, where she personally took farewell of the officers and presented gifts to the men of her own regiment The captains of the transports did not know their destination until they opened the sealad .orderß three miles out. Some of the troopships •ware not even aware they were being escorted until a submarine was suddenly seen passing, partially submerged. Sir John French and staff stood on the quarter deck of the Scout as she approached with decks cleared for action. The majority of ths populace were unaware tho British General was expected, though the arrival of the transport at the same time arous?d general enthusiasm The military Governor and the Mayor greeted Sir J. French at the jetty Throughout Friday and Saturday Britishers marched from street to camps on the French hills, and were quickly distributed at various points, of which the town is the victualling centre

The whole was done without excitement. Everybody seemed doing an everyday job. The precise contents of every Bhip's hold were known directly the troops left. The cargo was carried out to sheds at prearranged places where the exact space was allocated It was manifest the lessons learnt in South Africa were not forgotten