SECRET OF MUTINY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 67, 16 September 1922, Page 18

SECRET OF MUTINY

IN THIRD YEAR OF WAR

PETAIN STAVED OFF DISASTER

Towards the end of May, 1917, after the, second battle of the Aisne, there was a; mutiny of a very serious nature in the French army among corps in reserve, which spread to the men in the line. Although thousands of people knew about it, not a word appeared in x print then or since, un^bil now, with the publication of the third volume of Mr. John Buchan's "A History ,of the Great War," Mr. Buchan gives a vivid account of what happened. After a description of the battle, one result of which was the succession of General Petain to the command in ,place of General Nivelle, Mr. Buchan says :— "Petain, on hjs succession; to office, found a, grim problem before him. The battle had been like a chemical which, when added sto a compound,, produces an. explosion,* and the, superb "moral, of the soldiers of France seemed to be in the gravest jeopardy. , "As early as 'February, Nivelle had complained of pacifist and Communist propaganda among his troops. There were evil, elements in French life which seized the occasion of the fatigue and disillusionment of tho soldier to instil the poison of cowardice and treason. The rank and file had iriany grievances. "Leave was hard to get, and when it was granted the permissionairo found such difficulties in reaching his family that most of his scanty time was taken up by the, journey. Intense bitterness was roused bj letters from home, which told the peasant^of the struggle of his womankind to keep his farm in cultivation while the workmen of the town were ■exempted by thousands for^ munition making. Ther,e was dire confusion in the medical services during the battle, and wounded were sent all over France to spread despondency by the tale of their needless sufferings. "The first signs of revolt appeared about 20th May, not in the troops fighting on the Aisne, but in the corps which had been some months in reserve.

"The contagion spread to the men in the line, and in certain divisions nearest Paris the mutiny seemed to have something of the character of a first step to political revolution.

"The crisis showed Petain at his best. On the ono hand he insisted on reforming flagrant abuses. New regulations were passed granting as a right ten days' leave every four months, with the result that 350.000 French soldiers were on leave at one time as against 80.000 British." ' „

Mr. Buclian says that the comfort al the fighting man and his dependants was enormously increased.

"The penal measures were few ; less than ;i dozen suffered death as mutineers. Hut Petain set himself to a great worky divisions, and created a profound iminonths he visited and addressed the officers and men of over one hundred divisions, end create da. profound impression. He had no tricks to win popu; larity, no easy geniality, none of the air of- the 'bon enfant' ; he was always grave and dignified, alwnvs the general-in-chief. Bui such was the atmosphere of calm resolution which he bore with him that he -moved ' an'rlienccs which tbi> most finished oration' wo'ild liavp left unto'.ichßr). By ths middle'of Juno the