BY NAPOLEON’S SIDE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 257, 30 October 1928, Page 10

BY NAPOLEON’S SIDE

MARSHAL FAYOLLE’S TOMB . LEADER IN THE GREAT WAB Carried on a gun-carriage and escorted by four marshals of France— Foch, Petain, Franchet d’Espcrey, and Lyautey—the body of Marshal Fayolle, who dial in August, was conveyed to the Invalides, where, after a funeral service in the chapel it was lowered to rest in the crypt. Henceforward, according to the terms of a bi 1 which will be submitted next session of the Chamber of Deputies, the bodies of all French marshals and generals who took com-mand-in-chief before the enemy are to be interrer,’’ in the crypt of the Invalides, a few paces from the tomb of Napoleon. The whole garrison of Paris either marched behind the coflin or lined the streets. Marshal Fayollc in 1918 had a large number of British, troops under his direct command. Emil Fayolle was born at Lc Puy in May, 1852. In 1873 he became an artillery officer, later joined the general staff and then taught in the artillery .section of the Ecole die Guerre. His work there had considerable influence one the development of the French artillery and its tactics. His methods are set forth in his book, “Concentration of Fire and of Strength,” published in 1913. It was Fayolle who first warned France of the great developments in the German heavy artillery. Fayolle 7 s career seemed to be over when in May. 1914, he retired to Cer-mont-Ferrand as a brigadier-general

on the reserve list. But the war soon recalled him to service, first as commander of the 139th Infantry Brigade and then of the 70th Division, at the head of which he succeeded in checking the German advance in Lorraine.

Then for 15 months his division was on the left wing of the French forces, where, in May, 1915, he achieved successes at Cavenzy and Ablian St Nazaire, after which he was put in command of the 33rd Army Corps on the Souchez and Vimy front.

In February, 1916, Fayolle took over the 6th Army, which played a deci sive part in the Battle of the Somme, capturing a number of position. In spring, 1917, as leader of the Ist Army, he prepared a great attack at Noyon which, in consequence of the withdrawal of the Germans to the Hindenburg Line, was not carried out. Fayolle succeeded Petain in May. 1917, as leader of the army group in the centre, and in October of that

year he was sent to Italy with an auxiliary force which captured the commanding position of Monte Tomba and thus contributed to the restoration of the Italian front.

Fayolle then returned to France and took command of the great “mass of manoeuvre,” which Foch had organised behind the Anglo-French front in the spring of 1918. . In that capacity he w-as successful in restoring the liaison between the British and French fronts which ha»l been broken by the great German attack of March. 21, 1918, after which as leader of an army group he took part in the great Allied offensive during the summer which led to the collapse of the German armies.

On December 9, 1918, Fayolle entcied Mainz at the head of his victorious troops, remaining there till November, 1919, in command of the French Army of the Rhine. He then returned to France and became a

member of the Supreme War Council. In February, 1920, he was mr- a Marshal of France.