FOOTNOTES: 

[13] M.A.P., August 25, 1900.

[14] With General French and his Cavalry in South Africa. By C.S.  Goldman.  By permission of Messrs. Macmillan & Co., Ltd.

[15] The Regiment, September 5, 1914.

CHAPTER IX

WORK AT HOME AND RESIGNATION

    At Aldershot—­Driving Training at High Pressure—­General
    French is “fairly” well pleased—­Strenuous Manoeuvres—­Chief
    of the Imperial General Staff—­Ulster and Resignation.

With Lord Kitchener, General French had a wonderful welcome on his return from South Africa.  The former had certainly added a few leaves to his laurel wreath, but French brought back a complete new crown of his own.  His return home in July was a triumphal progress.  At Southampton, in replying to congratulations, he paid a fine tribute to his men.

French’s hatred of ostentation in any form prevented him from allowing Society to fete him to its heart’s content.  He was the most retiring of lions; and, like Kitchener, he allowed London to idolise him only at a distance.  A knighthood was one reward of his services; and after a brief rest he was back at Aldershot as Lieutenant-General in command.

For the first time French found himself in command of all arms of the service in time of peace.  After his arrival, instruction was driven at high pressure.  No sooner had he arrived than he turned out the whole of his command—­“just to see how they looked!” Such a thing had scarcely ever happened before; and the order sent desolation to the hearts of some of the officers.  For it meant that the whole force, every man, horse and gun had to turn out forthwith, in full marching order, and ready for action.  After the first feverish digging out of accoutrements and tents, however, the men became hardened to these sudden alarums and excursions.  They became a part of the programme.

The cavalry especially was trained to an extraordinary degree of perfection.  The most rigorous methods in use abroad were used and bettered.  The result was the production of a body of men who, like Wellington’s heroes of Torres Vedras, “were ready to go anywhere and do anything.”

[Page Heading:  “FAIRLY” WELL PLEASED]

In December, 1907, French was appointed Inspector-General of the Forces.  In this extremely exacting office, his qualities of thoroughness and grip had splendid scope.  A glance at his comments discloses the high standard of excellence which he exacted from every branch of the service.  Only the other day timid folk were bewailing his methods at manoeuvres.  Four horses had succumbed to a gruelling day of fierce exertion.  But French expressed himself as “well pleased.”  One does not remember his ever going farther up the giddy incline of the superlatives.  Probably his exacting eye never yet met the corps