1922 Encyclopædia Britannica/Micheler, Joseph Alfred

MICHELER, JOSEPH ALFRED (1861- ), French general, was born at Phalsbourg (Meurthe) on Sept. 23 1861. He entered St. Cyr in Oct. 1880 and was appointed a sub-lieutenant on the completion of his course in 1882. He was promoted lieutenant in 1886, captain in 1891, major in 1901 and lieutenant-colonel in 1909. Three years later he was made a colonel. At the outbreak of the World War he was employed as chief-of-staff to the VI. Corps. In Oct. 1914 he was promoted general of brigade, and in Jan. 1915 was transferred as chief-of-staff to the I. Army. On Aug. 3 1915 he took over command of the 53rd Inf. Div., being later (March 25 1916) promoted a temporary general of division and appointed to the XXXVIII. Army Corps. Ten days later he was placed at the head of the X. Army. On June 22 1916 he was confirmed in his rank as general of division. He commanded the X. Army during the battle of the Somme, and was then called to the head of a new group of armies formed behind the centre for the exploitation of the victory counted upon in Gen. Nivelle's Aisne scheme. He was thus involved very deeply in the controversies which centred upon that scheme both before and after April 16 1917. It was principally his criticisms that initiated the internal crisis, and led to the council of war, in which, however, he seems not to have followed up his objections. His relations were strained with his subordinate Mangin as well as with Nivelle, and the latter sought afterwards to saddle him with part of the responsibility for the relative failure of the offensive. His group of armies being broken up he returned to the duties of an army commander. In May 1918 he vacated the command of the V. Army which he had held for a year. He was made a commander of the Legion of Honour (Sept. 30 1916).