El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-22

John L. BaidsrELon- Introduction p2
John I. Halderstou-
T ONDON. Eng June 22.-As Prof
i woodrow wilson, years before he
could have dreamed OF attaining his
present office. wrote an essay on the
nature and duties OF the presidency
SO professor Hal. -Foch in the Superior
school OF War, early in the century,
iectured his pupils upon the art Of
command and the functions OF a gen
eralissimo. The Maj. Foch Of those
days was almost a mystic IN his ex-
altaton Of the sacred fire that must
burn within the breast OF the born
general, the imperative fluid that
he must know how 20 communicate
through ali the ranks OF the army in
spring every man with the "Wlu to
c0nQuer.
Uncousciously, perhaps, Maj. Foch
describes below the qualities which
his subordinates OF today unanimous
Iy sscribe to Gen. FOch. In poor
health. the Eeueralissimo dWells
quietly en- a little house Tar behind the
Hines. There are no maps in evidence,
no hurrying motor cars; Eoch is carry
ing out today his theories OF long
ago, leaving to his subordinates,
Petain, HaiE. PershinE, and the rest
The task of accomplishing in their
own way on their own initiative, the
strategic aims he sets them. Focn
waits but, through his army, and the
armies Of the allies Of France, he has
sent coursinr that imperative fluid
that he describes here-eVery soldier
who comes back is witness Of IT,
Treats Theorists With ScOrm.
whitening scOrn Prof Foch used to
Dour on theorists who thought wars
could be won by occupying territory
b.
than destroying the enemy's main ar
niles Some Of his statements on this
point 7 have reproduced, for the here
sizes which he flaws have had their
supporters in this war, and have them
still
Foch had one quotation that he was
so fond Of hammering into the heads
of his pupils that they came 10 regard
il as the professors pet saying He
acted upon it at the Marne, and VIII
do so now, when the time comes Ma
Boleon told the Austrian generals at
LeOben; There are many good gen J
erals in Europe, but they try 20 en- I
visage too many things; they try 90
see everything. TO guard everything. 10 Z
defend every thing. I see with sin T
Ele eye for me. only masses exist I
charge myself with destroying them, I
knowing wen that the accessories 1
viii fan Of themselves afterwards
On one occasion FOch from his ros- I
trum with blazing eyes repeated this /
10 his students. Then. more quietly. ]
he Daraphrased what the emperor had &
said. amDlifying Il. giving il as his
begin 10 translate As before, 7 give +
only the generals own words; but
what follows comprises not a single /
lecture. but parts Of several
WITH A SINGLE EYE.
BY FERDINAND FOCH.
GGT'HERE are many good generals,
j but they try TO envisage too
many things, they FRY TO see every
hing. 10 guard everything. TO defend
sverythinE-th bases. the lines Of
communications. the rear every good
position, then every other position I
hat is equally sood" So on the de-
-ensive they string out their forces
md when they take the offensive they ,
.ttaciz in many directions, or make ]
.everal different attacks; a procedure
which in one case as the other leads
o dispersion, forbidding the exercise
= unified command. the combination
or a single purpose the strong blow
eads, in short 10 paralysis.
As for me, 7 see with q single eye
or me- only masses exist I charge
myself with destroying them, know {
@AA AAaal AaaH AAA IAN
Z themselves afterwards"
The New Kind Of war.
How shall we fight in the new kind {
u war, more and more national in
Tig1ns and aims, with means OF de- Z
truc-lon more and more powerful, Z
asslons more violent. which rejects
81 systems hitherto founded on such {
Considerations as ground, position, q
rmament. supplies; which places as
Z secondary Importance the posses G
ION OF territory, the taking Of towns. y
be conquest and occupation Of strong q
Dsitions2 what means shall we adopt. Z
.DW shall such a war be commenced. 6
nd how finished2 q
As we have seen, It Is TO the theory s
Z the decision by strength OF arms y
hat we are forced no other viii meet S
he facts Instead Of coudemninE the {
ars and battles OF Napoleon as acts +
barbarism, we see ia them the sim {
le efficaciOus means OF success.
War must be Waged In this way: a
when country finds Itself in the p
resence OF an opponent who fights a
D the same fashion. C
Who takes uD arms for an idea. a d
rinciple, a modification Of the tariff;
he reason matters little, IS imma-
sriaL O.
Who also counts on carrying out his "
official or economic theories with g
is armies. II
Who VIII not abandon them until =
epriTed Of the means OF defending q
len. io
Who viii not admit himself con h
lered until he cannot or does not .
ant 90 fight longer. which viii be v
hen his army has been ruined. ma 2
.rially OF morally. lei
Destruction BY Applied Force. m
Hence modern war knows no other u
ethods than those leading TO the n
rerllr0W OF the enemy army fo hat ul
e, destruction by applied force. The ID
hole aim Of modern war is TO seek -
= the enemy armies, the center. OF "a
Re adverse power, TO DESTROY them. is
rob him Of his bases; to penetrate
len and such part OF his territory o.
which access is easy. None OF these "
suits constitute an advantage by 81
- "
ca
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