That a son's biography of his father should be wholly
dispassionate is hardly to be expected. Thus it is no surprise to find The Life of Field-Marshal Sir John French, First Earl of Ypres, by his son, Major the Hon. Gerald French (Cassell, 15s.), both eulogistic and controversial. The chapters on his early career and on his cavalry operations in the South African War are attractive. When he was commanding at Aldershot he had, the author tells us, endless trouble with the clique who wanted to reserve all Staff appointments for Staff College graduates. He resigned his position as Chief of the General Staff just before the War, as a result of the Curragh incident or " mutiny." It was not a happy prelude to the critical period in which Lord French had to command the British Army in France and to play a decisive part in the victory of the Marne. Major French's account of that period cannot be commended. His repetition of his father's con- demnation of General Smith-Dorrien for standing to fight at Le Cateau and inflicting a severe check on Von Kluck will be regretted by all serious students of the War ; tlie action was inevitable, its results were good, and the losses were less than Major French states. The references to the shells controversy and to the missing reserves at Loos are far from satisfactory in tone and substance. Marshal Joffre con- tributed a foreword to the volume.
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