In 1902 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel. From 1904 to 1906 he was Military Commandant of the Palais Bourbon, which housed the Chamber of Deputies, and he was promoted colonel in 1905. In 1907 he became Director of Infantry at the War Office ,  an appointment which he held for four years. He was made "General de Brigade" in 1908. In 1911 he was promoted "General de Division" when his radical Socialist friend Caillaux formed his first government, and on 1 November 1913 he was given command of VIII Corps.