Within a few months the school course was broken
up by the German invasion, and Joffre with other cadets promptly
volunteered for service. Much to the delight of his family, he was made
a second lieutenant, attached to the Engineering Corps. His first
practical field work was in throwing up fortifications in defence of
Paris. But the Germans were not to be stopped by Joffre in their march
on the French capital at this time. That was reserved for a later day
and another war.
The short but terrible conflict of 1870 over, Joffre returned to college,
and graduated therefrom in 1872, with the rank of full lieutenant. One
of his classmates of this time was Ferdinand Foch, but if the two future
Marshals there became acquainted no story of their meeting has come down
to us.
Joffre's first work at fort building had been so well done that
immediately upon graduation the government set him to work. The memory
of the stinging German defeat was with them stirring them to action.
They wanted defenses everywhere. Joffre was employed upon them at Paris,
Versailles, Montpellier, and even in faraway Brittany--until he was
disposed to grumble at his fate.
"This is all very fine," he said; "but I don't want to spend the rest of
my days building forts. I want to command troops and see some real
fighting.
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