Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-02
Sketch OF General roch

General 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 annexation
of Alsace-Lorraine, Foch preferred to
return to France and help to prepare
France for the present German In
vasion
He entered the polytechnique school
with the number Z. He left ii the
45th OF his class-a rank that was not
considered as justifying hopes of
great future. He never daZzled by his
brilliance, but he showed that wonders
could be accomplished by application.
He never ceased study except to teacn.
Foch began by mastering the strategy
of the war 1870 in it's minutest details.
Knowing the mentality of the Germans
he counted upon their. repeating in fu-
ture conflicts the maneuvers that had
succeeded. He also expected them to
make some of the old mistakes. 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 generalization. and
most minute preparation--the swift
thunderbolt of the opening to develop
into a struggle of colossal proportions.
To parry the blow, Foch said repeat
in the same direction, practicing the
same doctrines under a vigorous and
audacious chief, Sinking no RESPONSE
bility, preserving the equilibrium of his
mind and the force of his intelligence
under formidable difficulties and exer-
cising without hesitation the most re-
doubtable rights over his subordinates
Foch foresaw Joffe as clearly as he
foresaw the war OF 1914 arising from
~.
and developing with the same objective
Paris. He thought he saw quite as
clearly different an issue, and it would
be difficult to estimate the value of the
service he rendered to France by COM
municating his confidence to the young
officers. His work at the superior war
school contributed largely to the perfec-
tion of the French army which, If less
disciplined" than the German army.
vas held by him to be far better "edu-
Gated"
The stars of a general were given
Foch in 1897 and the command of the
superior war school, where he left his
mark as a professor. Preferring a more
active command, he resigned in 1912
and commanded successfully the Eighth
and Twentieth army corps, and proved
that he was one of the few military
writers or professors who also was an
efficient handler of men in the field.
The war found Foch at Nancy, the
headquarters of the. Twentieth corps
His corps was attached to General
Castelnau's army and he was selected
to command a new army concentrating
behind the center Of the forces marching
to the Belgian frontier to meet the Ger
mans. This army was not ready in time
to take part in the battle of Charleroi.
but it contributed singularly to the vic
tory Of the Marine. Foch's 40, 900 men
holding the center in that struggle, had
before them nearly 200, 900 Germans, in
Guiding the Prussian Guard, and at
times the pressure was so great that II
seemed the thin line must break.
They are so frantic in their attacks"
said Foch. cit must be that things are
going badly with them elsewhere. So
let's hold on
At another stage of the struggle aids
came up with the discuieting news that
both the right and left wings had been
abliged to give ground.
I'm that case" said Foch, there's