French's old South African commander, Lord Roberts, was particularly
struck by the retreat from Mons. He expressed his admiration in the
following remarkable letter to Lady French:

_12 Sept., 1914._

MY DEAR LADY FRENCH,

I write these few lines to tell you how much I admire your
husband's Dispatch, and how proud I am of the splendid work done
by the troops under his command. When the whole story of the war
comes to be known, the masterly way in which the Retreat from
Mons--under vastly superior numbers--was carried out, will be
remembered as one of the finest military exploits ever
achieved....[21]

I trust you will continue to get good news of Sir John, and that
you are keeping well yourself. With kindest regards, in which
Lady Roberts and my daughters join,

Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
(_Signed_) ROBERTS,
(F.-M.).

That was only the first chapter in the story of his new achievements.
The authentic history of his latest successes remains to be written.
The French, however, were not wrong in dubbing the British
Field-Marshal "the modern Marlborough." For French belongs to the same
dogged, cautious school as Marlborough and Wellington. His genius is