GREAT FRENCH SOLDIER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 112, 14 May 1925, Page 7

GREAT FRENCH SOLDIER.

DEATH OF GENERAL MANGIN. PARIS, May 13. The death has occurred of the noted French soldier. General Mangin, who played so prominent a part in the Great War.—(Keuter.) Like many great soldiers of many nations, Mnngin did not worship politicians, and they for their part bad no great affection for him. He (also like other military leaders) held that if soldiers were expected to bear the brunt of war, to force victory, and to save civilians, the men who led the troops in the field should have carte blanche. He was just as absolute in his belief that "War is Hell, and, therefore, make it hellish,'' as the most German German or the most English Briton. Mangin was a soldier all his life, nothing else, and his attitude, therefore, materially differed from that of civilians who might be colonels to-day and again behind the counter tomorrow. In private life, according to a distinguished British officer, he was kind, good natured, and, although extremely shy. most vivacious when his depths were stirred. In the field he was implacable, but chivalrous. He admired a gallant enemy as much as he admired a gallant ally. What is best to remember of him is that he held the hammer at Verdun and struck the blow. It was he, too with TJegoutte. who by consummate skill and splendid courage irresistibly attacked Fritz's risrht flank and set up in the gigantic Ger'nan machine the physical and moral rot that made CJermanv at last impotent. There is nr doubt that Mangin. like many French leaders, was inspirational. He was one of the geniuses of the Great War.