The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-04-04
EVEN GERMANS RANK FoGH
WITH GREATEST STEtTEGtSTs
My Right is Crushed. My Left IS in
Retreat, | am Attacking Niih Ny
Center" was His Messago 3 foEe

, AtHttt, was AAAN t'afNsaea ~ 'Ns
Defeating Germans at The Marine.
+ ''The greatest strategist in Europ
: and the humblest" JoIre callcn Gen
q eral Ferdinand Foch. now Command
= er- in Chief Of the Allied armies i
h France Together they are the tx
G foremost living French soldiers,
r AT the battle Of the Mafne Ioel
. broke the German center, he led e,
' French, British and Belgians in th'
first battle Of lprcs, he won TIC bat
tie Of Artois in May and Junc, 1915
he commanded the French forces il
The battle Of the Somme and recently
he has been Chief cf staff Of all the
French armies.
Joffre and Foch were born in the
French Pyrenees within few miles
of each other and within three months
of each other. Foch was born at Tar
bes, in the department Of Hautes-
Pyrenees, on October 2, 1851; and
Joffre in Pyrenees- Orientales, January
IL, 1852.
Foch came Of Basque family. His
father, Napoleon Foch, was a Bona
partist. One Of his brothers is law
yer and the other Jesuit priest.
Made Head of War College
In 1870 both Jofrre and Foch served
as subalterns against the Germans,
After the war Foch's genius was rec
ognized and at the age Of 26 he re-
ceived commission as artillery cap
tain. Later he became Professor Of
Tactics in the Ecole de Guerre (War
SCHOOL,, where he stayed five years
and then returned to the line.
As the years passed he rose to the
rank of Brigadier General. Clemen-
ceau was Premier. There was much
wirepulling to get the post Of Director
of the War College The intrigues
made Clemenceau impatient Few
mentioned Foch for the position One
day after casual conference, the
Prime Minister invited Foch to diac
with him. The vacant post was net
mentioned, until near the enl Of the
meal, Clemenceau said:
"By The way, I've a good bit Of news
for you. You're nominated Director
of the Ecole de Guerrc.'
Director Of the Ecole de Guerre. +
But I'm not candidate for the post
"That is possible. But you're ap
pointed all the same, and know you
will do excellent work in the position.
Foch thanked the Premier, but add
ed obviously:
81 fear you don't know have a
brother who is a Jesuit" (This was
Just after an effort had been made to
Dust all officers in any way religious
from the army)
Jesuit de d" exploded the
Tiger you are the director Of the
Ecole de Guerre. All the Jesuits in
won't alter that--it is fat
accompli'"
Recognized as S'rategist
As director Of the War School
Foch's fame became world wide. His
two great books Principles Of War"
and Conduct Of War" were translated
INTO English, German and Italian. The
'Militar- Wochenhlatt," organ Of the
German General STAFF, ranked him as /
me Of the few stratcgists Of first rate
.bility outside Of Germany
From the War School Foch went 70 {
he command Of the 18Th Division a
hen to the command Of the Eighth )
Jorps, and finally to the Twentieth t
Jorps at Nancy, which he commanded
n the defence Of the eastern frontier a
turing the opening days Of tho pres S
Mt war. Then he was called to or s
.anize new army, hastily formed, n
nth which he fought his most famous 0
attic, La Fere Champcnoise, phase 4
( the Battle Of the Marine. His army,
! the center Of the French line, faced 81
on Buelow's army composed Of the
russian Guard. On three successive
avs the enemy forced him back. Each
Forming Foch arose and fought again
in the fourth day, September 8, 1914,
G decided the enemy must be crushed.
Ie adopted an extremely bold STRAIT
gy. The 42d Division formed his ex
-eme right. Withdrawing this divi-
ION in the full tide Of battle, he called
n General Franchet d'Esperey, on his
#, TO fill the gap, and marched thc
I'd half way across the field behind
he line, drove II into the flank o. the