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Waipa Post, Volume VIII, Issue 354, 2 October 1914, Page 5

Those who assert that this is the day of the young man, that a man is “too old at forty,” and the rest of it, may be induced to modify their views by noting the ages of the principal generals engaged in the present war. General Joffre, the commander-in-chief of the Franco-British forces, is 62 ; his principal subordinate, General Pau, is four or five years older ; Sir John French is 62 ; von Kluck is 68. These veterans present in this respect a striking contrast to the leaders of the Napoleonic era. Napoleon himself was only 26 when he was placed in command of the army of Italy, and only 30 when he won the battle of Marengo. He was not 46 at Waterloo, and most of his brilliant cluster of marshals were about the same age as their illustrious chief. Wellington, his great antagonist, was only a few months older.