GENERAL PETAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1918, Page 6

GENERAL PETAIN.

THE DEFENDER OF VERDUN.

A Paria message last weeK stated that General Petain has been created a Marshal of TVance. -Soma admirable pea portraits of French army leaders were given in the Fortnightly by Mr Charles Dawbarn. Of these the most interesting at the present moment is one of General Petain, v/iio won world-wide fame through his skilful and gallant defence at Verdun. Before the war his name wag practically unknown save to his military associates and to a select circle of technical experts. A*

the outbreak of hostilities he was still only a colonel after long years of service, ond, being somewhat disappointed, was even contemplating retirement. He had, however, delivered at the Ecole de Guerre a remarkable series of lectures on

infantry action, ar.d ths acumen of J)is criticism of the various manoeuvres in which from time to time he had been encased with his Tcgiment had attracted tho notice of a few keen students of the art of war, The most notable feature of

his lectures, apart from their exceeding clarity of exposition, was the emphasis which he laid upon the personal factor in war. He had made a special study of the psychology of great leaders, and Re showed with a wealth of illustrations how often the difference between achievement and failure turned upon character. In his own person, both, aa ft regimental commander and as a lecturer, he proved the force of his own character, bis possession of the supreme gift of inspiring enthusiasm. This quality he was to display pre-eminently in the great ordeal at Verdun. During the war his promotion, so .-tardy before, was extraordinarily rapid, and for this the perspicacity of General de Castelnau» is largely responsible. In tho great retreat Petain's worth wa3 revealed to seeing eyes. He

was soon placed in temporary command of a brigade. Then ill a few days he was put at the head of a division. On 25th October, 1914, ho -was given the 23rd Armv Corps, wihieh covered itself with glory in the fighting at Carency, Notre Dome de Lorette, and Ablain. At the end of the following April, though still officially no more than a general of division, he became Chief of the 2nd Army, and witlh it he held in the Champagne offensive in September last, when tho unexpected rapidity of his success in piercing the German lilies proved almost embarrassing to the General Staff. No sooner did Bo Castelnau'observe the massing of German infantry and guns in the direction of Verdun, than, with Joffre's assent lie sent Petain to conduct tike defence of the fortress. Petain threw himself with character -

istic energy into the stupendous task preparing to meet the threatened onslaught. It was a question of days. Divisions were hurried up to reinforce tho 12,000 men wflio thinly garrisoned

the 20 miles aimed at by the GermansHeavy artillery was got together, some-e times improvised from forts and ships of the navy. An immense quantity of machine and field guns was assembled. Bad weather delayed the attack for a few days, and Petain made such good use of file short respite that the French were able to resist the first desperate thrust of the enemy's massed battalions. Wlien the German heavy guns showed marked superiority of range, Tetain countered by moving back the French lines and availing himself to Uhe full of the extreme mobility of the "75'5," using them as if they were machineguns, and often hiding them with baffling ingenuity. He left nothing to chance, organising and controlling every* thing. At the height of the bombardment he surprised his officers by paying them personal visits in the most exposed positions. During part of the battle llie passed along the line in an armored car, which served as his office and sleeping quarters. At another stage he spent the greater part of five days and nights continuously at his desk, wrestling witfo details. He is reported to have used up ft dozen chauffeurs in as many weeks. One of them remarked pathetically that he did not mind taking his chance of being killed in the trentihes, but to drive the General was positively to ask for death. Petain is, in fact, a man of quick perception, ready decision, great liant resource, and unusual vigor. He has always taken particular pains to keep himself physically fit, living bv system, measuring out both his solid and liquid food as regularly as that of his charger. 'For his ago his activity is wonderful. In the Champagne offensive he ran three miles at the head of his tioops over heavy ground. Ilis appearance of energy is heightened by his pink and white complexion and his slim figure. Though his hair and moustache are grey, he has the air of youth. ETe is unmarried but a devoted lover of children. While a model of courtesy, too speaks his mini freely and it is possible that his unflinching regard for the truth militated against his advancement in the years before the war.