THE FRENCH COMMANDER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2523, 31 July 1915, Page 15

THE FRENCH COMMANDER

"THE LION OF THE ARGONNEI"The Paris correspondent of the "Ernes," in referring to the fact that General Gouraud had been appointed to take tlie place of General d'Amade in command of the'. French forces in the Dardanelles, wrote: "A dark-wooded ridge heaves itself up out of the white chalk _ of the barren Champagne, cutting it off from the green and silver valley of the Mouse. This is the Argonne—the lair of the lion. Her guns have growled and muttered more persistently than in any other part of the line. Tho fight here has hot been one of battles; it has been the ambush and the surprise,_ the constant seeking, for the eneiny with the bayonet, the bomb, and the shell.

It is hero that General Gouraud earnol "his leonine title. No man could fit it better. He is tall above the averago height of men. His head is set upon bis shoulders with, suoh prido that it "would seein that" to' look down lie would have to bond his back. . Ho-has t'he long Beard of the Catholic missionary, and the steady eyes of the- seaman or the visionary. His tanned face tells of much time spent under the hot sun of Africa. General Gouraud is the youngest officer of-his rank in tho rejuvenated French Army. Ho is a type of- tho French miiul which, tired of criticism and reflection, took to action as tho means of expression. Tho colonial aspirations of France gave him his opportunity, and it is in tho founding and consolidation of the splendid African Empiro of France that all his sorvico has been given. "Ho is now 47, and commands 0110 of t'he most important sections of the western front. Under his brilliant and audacious leadership his men. have giv.cn their very best, and to General Gouraud one of tho incest interesting features of the campaign is the manner in which jfc lias united all- classes of society. One of General Gouraud's men is an individual who was, .an Anarchist. Tliis apostle of anti-militarism has been lighting with marked gallantry, and lie has been recommended for a sergeant. General Gouraud,, who found him at tho officers'- training school, stopped to congratulate him, saying, ,'I am happy to. 'hear that you aro doing all your duty. I had heard that your opinions were a little advanced, > • •' toiwslioß fflnny things, jw fceaWAJ/ ws<