The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-30
America Urged
Naming Foch to
Command Allies
Believe Bakers Presence in
Europe Had Something to
DO With Appointment of
Frcnchman.

Washington March 90. official In
formation hns reached Washington that
General Foch. tho French chief of
staff. has been appointed to supreme
command Of all the allied and Amcri-
can forces In tfancc.
General Pershins's message, made
public by Mator General March. acting
chief of staff, follaws:
Have made all our resources avail
able and our divisions win be used II
spirit and both armies seem conf
dent"
The first hint Of the historic develops
ment came In press cable dispatches
, telling how General I'ershing had
placed the American expcditionary
forces ut the disposal OF the French
commander. THIS was confirmed to-
night In IA message from General
Pcfshing to the war department.
eaksr influenced Appointments.
The news Of the appointment OF Cen.
oral Eoch. one OF the heroes Of the
Marne TO supreme command gave Rise
Instantly 10 suggestions that tho pres
encc of Secretary Raker In Europe
was connected with the development.
| Many observers here surmtsed that
Mr.. Baker was sent TO Europe parttc-
ularly To urge the CO ordination Ut all
allied armies under n single co,nman-
der. Such IN known To have been
President Wilson's desire when his
urgency caused the creation Of the su-
preme war council. Some measure Of
co- ordination was secured through that
body. but any plan for appointment Of
4 o supreme commander with authority
over all the armies French, British.
Italian and American. met strong OPP
position In England. The recent crisis,
which threatened tho Lloyd-George
ministry arose from the extent TO
which the premier had gone In rnerg-
ing the British forces with those Of
Britain's allies.
Foch WOULDN'T es Hun.
General Ferdinand Foch. In OF Basque
origin. He WAS born at Tarbee In 1861.
but was raised at Metz. Rather than
become q German after the annexation
OF Lorraine. Foch preferred to return
10 France and help to prepare Frances
struggle with Germany. which he be-
lieved ultimately would take place.
lie entered tho polytechnic school
with the number ~. He left 1t the 45th
Of his class-a rank that was not con-
sidered as justifying hopes Of great
future. lie never daxxled by his bril-
lliancy. but he showed that wonders
could be accomplished by. application.
He never ceased study. except to teach.
Studied osrmsn Methods.
Foch began by mastering the strate-
IKy Of the war Df 1870 In its minutest
details. Knowing the mentality Of the
lGermans. he counted upon their re-
prsAting In future conflicts the maneu-
yers that had succeeded. lie also OK
pected them to make some OF the old
mistakes. In his teachings at the su-
lperior war school and In his writings
he held always 10 the idea Of an inev-
table aggression by Germany. sprung
with lightning like rapidIty after long
I premeditatiOn and most minute prepa-
rati0n--the swift thunderbolt Of the
opening to develop into struggle oi
colossal proportions. t. t
To parry the blow, Foch said repeat
ledly France must have "a staff working
In the same direction, practicing the
same doctrines under a vigorous and
audacious chief. shirking no RESPONSE
bility, preserving the canhibrium OF his
mind and the force Of HIS intelligence
lunder formidable difficulties and excr.
: Icising without hesitation the most re-
doubtabio rights over his subordinates
Had Great Foresight.
F0ch foresaw Joffre Al clearly as he
. IforesAw the war OF 1914 arising from
| the same motives AZ the war Of 1876
and developing with the same objectiys
--paTia. He thought he saw quite a
Iclearly different Issue. and 1t w0ui6
lba difficult to estimate the value oi
!, Ithe service he rendered to France b.
communicating his confidence to Tho
Iyoupg officers. His work at the su-
Iperior war school contributing largel,
Ito the perfection OF the French arm,
(which. II less "disciplined" than th'
tderman army WAS held by him to b,
i, Tar better educated"
The stars OF q general were giyei
f'och In 1907 and the command Of tn
= isuperior war school, where he left hi
!, mark ~ professor. Preferring NOR
II lactiye command. he resigned in 1911
n and commanded successlvely the eight
e land twentieth army corps. and proves
THAT he was one Of the few militar
a iwriterA or professors who could effi
g cisntly handle men In thas 1isld. ,ssT.
10 The war found Foch at Nancy. tn
l. headquarters OF the Twentieth corp
! (Continued on PaR0 Teul