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With Paris safe, Generals Gallieni and Sarrail began a campaign to undermine Joffre's prestige which lasted some two years. As time passed and Joffre did not win the War, as rumors flew that he had not properly laid out the defenses of Verdun, and as the Allied offensive on the Somme failed at frightful cost, Joffre was "promoted" (retired) from the post of Commander-in-Chief to something created on the spot called "Adviser to the Government in Matters Concerning the Direction of the War." Finally this sop was replaced by the baton of Marshal. To "Papa" Joffre the supreme military honor came as a sad pseudo-climax, a kind pretense that his power had not been taken away. There was nothing left to do, no further service he could perform for France, except to ride through the streets of U. S. cities in 1917, cheered to the echo, inspiring men to volunteer and fight for Democracy. Again last week the crowds of Paris saluted "Papa" Joffre, but in heart-wrung silence. They stood in a drizzling rain in Rue Oudinot, outside the hospital of St.
Jean-de-Dieu, waiting for the sad sentence that they knew was inevitable. They learned that he had received the last sacrament. Twice they heard that he was in a final coma.
Twice the doughty Joffre rallied. To the amazement of physicians, a flush of color mounted to the soldier's chalky cheeks. He even took a little food and mineral water, and replied to questions with an apparently understanding "Oui." But the few who were allowed to visit him refused to be buoyed by hope. They could but quote the doctors: "The Marshal is still fighting. His resistance is astonishing, but it is the end."
* Known as a "free-thinker" for most of his life, Atv. Joffre was converted two years ago. At that time he and Mme Joffre. long married civilly, underwent an ecclesiastical ceremony.
† So called because, located at an extremity north of the Sahara Desert, it is also only a few miles Kiver Niger. Present population, 7,000 humans who supply the wants of many thousands of caravan camels, 18,000 caravan and river traders yearly, also weave cotton, make pottery, do leatherwork, pluck a little embroidery.-