GREY-HAIRED GENERALS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 26, 1 April 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

GREY-HAIRED GENERALS.

THEY HAVE DISPLACED YOUNG COMMANDERS.

Generals are no longer expected to personally lead their men into battle like warriors of old; their place is now the headquarters base, several miles behind the fighting line, where they keep in touch with the troops by means' of telephone, telegraphy, and wireless. For thsi reason the modern commander is more often than not grey-headed and well on in years, mature judgment and experience taking the place of the great energy and reckless: courage supposed to be the distinguishing marks of military leaders' in the past. In the present campaign nearly every important commander is over sixty years of age. Lord Kitchener is sixty-four, General Sir John French is sixty-two, and the Fren>;h leaders Pan and Joffre are both approaching seventy. Germany's generals are mostly men who so successfully brought victory for their country during the Franco-Prus-sian War of 1870; thus they are by no means voung. General Von Kluck is sixty-eight; General Von Hindenburg, whose armies the Russians have routed, is sixty-seven; General Von Moltke, chief of the German General Staff, is sixty-six; and General Von Bulow is sixty-eight. War is far more scientific an undertaking than formerly, and this accounts for the reign of the white-haired commander, who has many years of military experience to draw upon. Formerly it was* the dashing young commander who achieved success in war. Napo. eon, Hannibal, and Alexander the Great achieved their greatest successes when imaginative young men, who had all the physical activity of their troops.

This family group shows General Louis Botha, Premier of the Union of South Africa and Commander of the S.A. Defence Force, with his sons. General Botha earned our respect as a foe, our admiration as an administrator, our love as a patriot. The son

iii uniform is Captain Louis Bothn. The other son standing is John, who, although under n<ze, volunteered for service. Tlio little bov in front is Philip, the youngest son. The larger picture on the right shows a body of the Cape Mounted Police.