Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-04-02
GEN. FocH IN COMMAND
All Allied Armies Now Under Ono
Direction,

GEN. FOCH IN COMMAND
All Allied Armies Now Under One
| Direction.
Great Britain. the United States and
Italy have agreed to place all their
armies under General Foch, Of the
French army. during the present ope-
rltions in France, and Gen. Foch Is
now acting as commander in chief.
Gen. Ferdinand Foch is Of Basque
origin. He was born at Tarbee in
1851, but was reared at Metz. Rather
than become a German after the an
nrxation OF Alsace- Lorraine, Foch pre-
fcrred TO return TO France and help
to prepare France for the present Ger
man invasion.
Foch began mastering the strategy
of the war of 1870 in its minutcst de-
tails. Knowing the mentality OF the
German he counted upon their repeat
ing in future conflicts the mancuvers
them to make some of the old mis-
takes.
In his teachings at the Superior War
school and in his writings he held
always to the idea of an inevitable
aggression by Germany. sprung with
lightning like rapidity. after long and
most minute preparation-the swift
thundcrbolt OF the opening to develop
into n struggle OF colossal proper
tions.
To parry the blow. Foch said repeat
edly, France must have n staff work
ing in the same direction. practicing
the same doctrines under a vigorous
and audacious chief.
Foch foresaw Joffre as clearly rs he
foresaw the war OF 1914. arising from
the same motives as the war Of 1870
and developing with the same objective
Paris. He thought he saw quite as
clearly different issue. and 1t would
be difficult to estimate the value Of
the service he rendered to France by
| communicating his confidence to the
Young officers. His work at the Su
perior War school contributed largely
TO the perfection Of the French army
which, if less disciplined" than the
German army. was held by him TO he
far better educated"
The war found Foch at Nancy, the
headquarters OF the Twentieth corps.
His corps was attached to General
Castclnau's army and he was selected
to command new army concentrating
behind the center OF the forces march
ing to the Belgian frontier to meet
the Germans. This army was not
ready in time to take part In the bat
tie of Charleroi, but 1t contributed
singularly to the victory Of the Marne.
Fochs 10000 men, holding the center
1n&t-struggreT 'n1t Uefure- tnem
nearly 100000 Germans.
They are so frantic In their at
iacks." said Foch. ut must be that
things are going badly with them
elsewhere, so let's hold on"
At another stage of the struggle
aides came up with the disquieting
news that both the right and left
wings had been Obliged to give ground
in that case" said Foch. there's
nothing to do but smash them in the
center. Order up the Moors."
General Dubois. with the Moors on
his left, smashed the Germans so hard
in the center that the Hessian Guard
was thrown back upon and into the
Saint Godad marshes. Won Haun's
right wing was obliged to retire in
unison and Foch was able to re-estab-
lish his line.
| After the battle of the Marne Foch
was given command Of a group OF
armies operating in the north OF
France and promoted to grand officer
in the Legion of Honor. King George
conferred upon him the Order OF the
Bath. first class.
Tall, thin, elegant-with a fine head
and fcatures-General Foch is simple
of bearing but authoritative. From
his gray eyes shine the intelligence
and will power of real chief. Ir
conversation he shows his militar,
training by directing the course Of his
talk like maneuvcr. When in May
Of last year General Joffre was sue
cceded in the command Of the French
armies operating on the French front
by General Petain, and General Nivillt
was placed in command of a group OF
l Iarmies. Foch succeeded Petain as chief
of the general stafr Of the ministry OF
war, q position he has held up to the
present, all the while working dill
gently upon the strategic moves In
which the French have been so sue
cessful.
For some time It has been hinted
that General Foch might be appointed
head OF all the allied forces, owing to
his known ability as a tactician and
his skill as q leader OF men. All along
he has been impressed with the idea
that a German victory was impossible
and frequently has expressed the
opinion that the enemy forces would
never be able to pierce the allied line
II