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Show NOTABLE MEN ON FRENCHJIS1N Most Prominent Figures in France to Confer With American Statesmen. BOARD PERSONNEL Marshal Joffre Only Man So Honored Since Close of Franco-Prussian War. WASHINGTON, April 24. Among the most notable figures in France are ttfe members of the French mission about to set foot on American soil. At tho head of the mission is Rene Vlvlani, minister of justice and vice president of the council of ministers, who embodies the highest type of French democracy. He is a progressive progres-sive in every sense, belonging to the independent Socialist party, which Includes In-cludes such men as Painleve, Briand and Millerand. As minister of labor In the Clemenceau cabinet he passed the workers' pension law through parliament par-liament Other members of the party are: Marshal Joseph Jacques Cesalrc Joffre, Joff-re, commander in chief of the French armies until last December, now military mil-itary adviser of the government; Vice Admiral P. L. A. Cchochsprat, dean of French admirals, and an expert on submarine problems; Marquis Pierre Do Chambroun, member of the chamber cham-ber of deputies and a student of international inter-national affairs; M, Simon, Inspector of finances; M. Hovelacque, inspector general of public instruction, and Surgeon Sur-geon Major Dreyfus. Former Premier Vivlanl. VIviani was born at Sidi-Bel-Abbes, in Algeria, November 8, 1SG2, and was admitted to practice law bofore the court of appeals at P.arls in 1887. His Socialistic tendencies early manifest ed themselves and he becamo counsel coun-sel of the railway workmen and employes. em-ployes. Elected to tho chamber of deputies in 1893 and again in 1898, he retired temporarily from politics to become a French citizen practicing law in the provinces. Pie was re-elected to the chamber in 190G, however, and has maintained his membership ovor since. Ho has tho reputation of being one of the most fervent and eloquent elo-quent of French orators and" also has attained distinction as a journalist, writing many articles for the great French dailies. On June 14, 1914, VIviani succeeded Gaston Roumerque as president of the council of ministers and minister of foreign affairs. In that dual capacity he accompanied President Poincare on a special occasion to Russia, and only four days after their return to Paris war was declared on France by Germany. Ger-many. It was primarily because Vivian! Vivi-an! was a member of President Poin-care's Poin-care's cabinet when the war broke out that he has been retained, notwithstanding notwith-standing the mutations of French politics pol-itics involving extensive changes in tho cabinet. The French people felt that to permit him to retire might be construed as ovidonce of their disapproval disap-proval of France's entry into the war. Besides, there was the immense personal per-sonal popularity of the man himself. Marshal Joffre is the only man in France sinco tho close of the Franco-Prussian Franco-Prussian war in 1870 who has been authorized to bear the illustrious title of marshal of Franco, nnd this distinction dis-tinction was conferred on him by unanimous action of the French chamber cham-ber in recognition of his splendid services serv-ices as a military leader in what probably prob-ably was tho most critical moment In French history. His officers and soldiers, however, scarcely know him by tho distinguished title; to them he has been "Our Joffre," or "Grandpa," since he led them to victory on tho Marno and finally turned tho tide of the German invasion. Yet these familiar fa-miliar nicknames never conveyed to the French mind any sense of weakness. weak-ness. Belovod as he was by his soldiers, sol-diers, Joffre Is in fact a strict disciplinarian. discipli-narian. His main aim after making his dispositions to secure victory has been the protection of tho lives of his men. This was illustrated in a small but Important manner early in the war when ho ruthlessly disregarded the traditional French love for the famous red trousers and had them discarded for'tho present blue uniforms. Common Com-mon sense Is rnted as his distinguishing distinguish-ing characteristic. He nevor permits himself to become oxclted, even under tho most sevore strain. In the darkest dark-est days of tho war In August, 1914, the minister of war paid a hasty visit to Joffre's headquarters, then located in a small house at Romilly, behind the Marno. Tho German progress was still In full swing, yet tho minister camo back to Paris buoyed up with hope and sure of ultimate victory. For ho had found tho great goneral calm, serene and absolutely certain of the ability of his army to check tho German Ger-man invaders at that point, a prom-lso prom-lso abundantly redeemed In IiIb subsequent sub-sequent victories. 00 NOTABLE MEN ON (Continued From Page 1) Joffre was commander-in-chief of the French army at the beginning of the war and he remained in that position until December last, when he gave place to General Neville to become marshal and military adviBer of the government. In responding to tho call of active duty, his services are placed at the disposal of the American people, whom he comes to advise in the best way of organizing, disciplining, equiping and perhaps transporting io Europe, tho greatest army which the country has ever called into being. The marshal was born In 1S52 at RIvesaltes, in the Pyrennes, of parents par-ents in the middle station of life. At 17 he became a student in the great French military school, the Ecole Polytechnique. Tho Franco-Prussian war in 1870 found him a sublieutenant in the artillery defending a Paris fort-After fort-After the war he devoted some time to engineering work and these carried him into Indo-China, Tonquin, Formosa and Africa. In tho Timbuctoo he led a charge which gained him a lieutenant lieuten-ant colonency, and the legion of honor distinction. His thorough mastery of military science brought him rapid promotion pro-motion and in 1911 he was vice president presi-dent of the superior war council, chief of the general staff and practically head of the arms'. In that capacity he pushed the 1913 law for three years' military service, which is now conceded conced-ed to have been the salvation of France. Vice Admiral Chocheprat Is dean of the French vice admirals and has a rank as high as can bo obtained in the French navy, as there is no admiral. He is a practical sailor with a most Intimate knowledge of naval construction construc-tion and ordnance and it is said he knows as much of submarine warfare as any man in the French navy. Marquis de Chambrun, a member of the chamber of deputies, is a grandson of LaFayette of revolutionary fame. He was born in Paris June 11, 1865. He is considered a notable authority on foreign affairs. M. Simon, inspector of finances, has an enviable reputation In Franco as an authority on finance. For a long time he was stationed in Mexico trying to adjust tho extensive financial interests of French citizens there. He is well known in financial circles in the United Unit-ed States. M. Hovolacque, inspector of public instruction, is widely known in educational educa-tional clrcles-in America. He has paid more than ten visits to the United States, the last only a year ago, making mak-ing special study of educational problems. prob-lems. ' Surgeon Major Dreyfus is not the famous fa-mous Major Dreyfus whose case nearly near-ly disrupted tho French army a decade ago. He was a private practicing physician phy-sician at the beginning of tho war when called into military service and attached closely to tho person of General Gen-eral Joffre. |
