Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-30
FOCH LONG FORESAW GERMANS
WOULD RENEW WAR ON FRANCE

Gen. Ferdinand Foch. who has been
selected for supreme command of the
allied armies on the western front, is
! of Basque origin. He was born at
Tarbee in 1851. but was reared at Metz.
Rather than become German after the
annexation of Lorraine Foch preferred
to return to France and help to prepare
France for her revenge for the taking
| of Alsace-Lorraine.
He entered the polytechnic school
| with the number ~. He left 1t the
forty-f1fth 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 won
ders could be accomplished by applica-
ton. He never ceased study except to
, teach.
Foch began by mastering the strategy
of the war of 1870 in its minutest de-
tails. Knowing the mentality of the
Germans. he counted upon their repeat
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 al
ways to the idea of an inevitable ag-
gression by Germany, sprung with
lightninglike rapidity. after long pre-
meditation and most minute prepara-
tion-the swift thunderbolt of the
opening to develop into a struggle of
colossal proportions.
Warned France to Be Ready.
To parry the blow. Foch said repeat
eddy, France must have staff working
in the same direction, practicfng the
same. doctrines under a vigorous and au-
dacious chief, Sinking no responsible
Y nrujn hn nf1ili Irir oS h
mind and the force of his intelligence
under fornlida BILE difficulties and exer-
cising without hesitation the most re-
doubtable rights over his subordinates.
Foch foresaw Joffre as clearly as 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 a different issue, and 1t 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
lection of the French army. which. il
less disciplined" than the German
army. was held by him to be far better
educated"
Won "Stars' in 1907.
The stars Of a general were given
Foch in 1907 and the command of the
ouPSl ioi " dI e5SIloOls WHSFc lie lSIl Ills
mark as professor Preferring a more
active command, he resigned in 1912 and
commanded successfully the Sth and
goth Army Corps, and proved that he
was one of the few military writer's or
professors who also were efficient hand
lers of men in the field.
The war found Foch at Nancy, the
headquarters of the goth Corps. His
corps was attached to Gen. Castelnau's
army and he was selected to command
center of the forces marching to the
This army was not ready in time to
1t contributed signally to the victory
ing the center in that struggle, had be-
Guiding the Prussian guard, and at
seemed the thin line must break.
tacks," said Gen. Foch, ut must be
elsewhere. So let's hold on"
aids came up with the disquieting
news that both the right and left wings
had been obliged to give ground.
'Tn that case" said Gen. Foch.
there's nothing to do but smash them
in the center. Order up the Moors."
Prussian Guard Thrown Back.
Gen. Dubois, with the Moors on his
left, smashed the Germans so hard in
the center that the Prussian guard was