No More Marshals

The big square knapsacks of the French poilus were lightened last week of the Marshal's batons, which, said Napoleon, every French soldier carries. At a meeting of the French Cabinet, it was decided that "the dignity of the title of Marshal of France will be allowed to disappear by extinction of those now bearing it." Marshals Foch and Fayolle are dead. Remaining of the Marshals of France are: Joseph (Battle of the Marne) Joffre, Henri (Verdun) Petain, Hubert (North Africa) Lyauty, Louis (Balkans) Franchet d'Esperey. None of these is a young man. It will not be long before the last blue-velvet, gold-starred baton disappears from France's parade grounds. Sentimental, the Paris press mourned last week the passing of a rank which goes back to the 12th Century, which has been prefixed to the names of famed Murat, Turenne, Ney. Practical, Government officials pointed out that the title of Marshal of France has been allowed to lapse before. For a great hero in a national crisis the Parliament can always revive it.