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Alexandre Percin

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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"ALEXANDRE PERCIN (1846-), French general, was born at Nancy (Meurthe) on July 4 1846. He entered the Ecole Polytechnique on Nov. 1 1865, and two years later was appointed a sub-lieutenant of artillery. He was promoted lieutenant in 1869 and captain in 1870. He took part in the Franco-German War and the commune fighting and was twice wounded - in Dec. 1870, at the battle of Patay, and again in April 1871 before Paris. He was made a major ( chef d'escadron ) in Jan. 1883, lieutenant-colonel in 1890, colonel in 1895, general of brigade in 1900, and general of division in 1903. In the period between 190o and his retirement, Gen. Percin was a very active reformer and innovator in the tactics of the artillery arm. The typical field-artillery tactics of 1914, based on time shrapnel covering fire, and on the intimate liaison of infantry and artillery, were largely due to his work, and after his retirement he continued a very active student and critic of artillery operations. His marked personality, and his political opinions as a radical, however, made him many enemies. At the outbreak of the World War he was recalled to service, but only as commander of the Lille region, and he was involved in the controversies connected with the evacuation of Lille. Later he was employed for a short period as inspector-general of artillery units. In Jan. 1915 he was placed in the reserves. He was given the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour in June 1917.

Amongst his more important works are La Manoeuvre de Lorlanges, L'Artillerie aux Manoeuvres de Picardie (English translation, War Office, 1912) and a psychological study of battle under the title Le Combat (1914).