JOFFRE'S RIGHT-HAND MAN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 30, 5 February 1916, Page 2

JOFFRE'S RIGHT-HAND MAN.

HE NEVER FORGETS A FACE

In the French army General Castelnau, who succeeded General Pau, when the latter was obliged to retire a short time ago on account of his health, as Jcffre's right hand man, is affectionately known as the "Father General," for he is 'a soldier who believes in cultivating intimate relations with his men.

It i s his custom, whenever possible, to visit the trenches and chat with the soldiers, asking'them questions as to their families 'and the country they have come from, in a fatherly manner, which goes straight to the hearts of the soldiers. What the men like best about General Castelnau is the fact that, like the late Lord Roberts, he never forgets a face. A short time ago, when visiting the trenches, he' recognised a veteran of the 17th Army Corps whom he first met when he secured his first staff appointment as colonel in 1835. Without any hesitation the general shook hands with the veteran, asked after his family, and congratulated him on the splendid work which he and his comrades were doing. No wonder the general is idolised by his men.

Jeffre ha s tlie highest opinion of General Castelnau. It was the French Commander-in-Chief, who, two years ago, when Castelnau was commanding the 13th Division at Chaumont, called him to Firis to become his Chief of General Staff, and such hightrust did Joffre .place in him that when war brclce cut he gave him command cf the all important army of Lcrraine, whore, although his forces -vere terribly cut up, he put up the ficrht which made him so famous. j

Castelnau's military record is rea'ly in amazing one. He Was a young man «£ If) when the Franco-Prussian war brcke cut. In October, 1870, he joined the 36th Regiment, then being formed, as sub-lieutenant. Three weeks later he was promoted captain, commanded a company the next month, and received his baptism cf fire by taking part in the fighting with the two armies of the Loire, and subsequently in the fighting during the Commune.

I T e proved his 'trenius for military in 1596, when he was -~e r 'ed to tho General Staff, and when for 'hrce years he controlled the orirrhalicn and mobilisation of the -'my Although he is 54 years of age. General Castelnau is a m'an who aoan ,-tand pny amount of fatigue. A keen be'iever in the simple life, he often lectures his men on the follies of extravagance, and reads them lesscn s on the methods they should •adept for their physical well-being.