South Bend news-times., 1918-03-30
Story of Foch's
Climb to Fame


Basque origin. He was born at
Tsrbee i'm 1881. but was raised at
Metz. Rather than become a
German after the annexation OF
Lorraine. Foch preferred to re-
pare France for the struggle
with Germany which he believed
ultimately would take place.
He entered the polytechnic
school with the number -. He
left il the 18th of his claSS-a
rank that was not considered as
justifying hopes of a great future.
He never daZZled by his bril-
lance but he showed that won
ders could be accomplished by
application. He never ceased
studying. except TO teach.
Foch began by mastering the
strategy of the war of 1870 i'm
minutest details. knowing the
mentality of the Germans. he
counted upon their repeating i'm
future conflicts the maneuYerS
that had succeeded. He also ex-
pected them to make some of the
old mistakes. In his teachings at
the superior war school and i'm
writings he held always 10 the
idea OF an inevitable aggression
by Germany. sprung with light
ning-like Tapidity after long pre-
meditation. and most minute
preparation - the swift thunder
bolt of the opening to develop in
To struggle Of colossal proper
tions.
To parry the blow, FOch said
repeatedly France must have a
staff working i'm the same doc
trineS under a vigorous and auda-
ciOus chief. shirking no respon-
sibility. preserving the equiIib-
rum of his mind and the force
of his intelligence under formid-
able differences and exercising
without hesitation the most re-
doubtabIe rights over his sub
ordinates.
E'Och foreSaw Joffre as clearly
as ne foreSaw the war of 1914
arising from the same motives as
the war of 1870 and developing
with the same Objectivc-Paris.
He thought he saw quite clearly
a different issue and il would be
difficult to estimate the value of
the service nc rendered TO France
by communicating his confidence
TO the young officers. His work
at the superior war school con-
tributed largely to the perfection
of the French army which. il
less "disciplined' than the Ger
man army, was held by him to
be far better educated"
The stars OF general were
given Foch i'm 1907 and the COM
mand Of the superior war school,
where he left his mark as pro-
fessOr. Preferring a more active
command. he resigned i'm 1912
and commanded successfully the
eighth and twentieth army corps.
and proved that he was one of
the few military writer's or pro-
feSsor who also was an efficient
handler Of men i'm the field.
The war found Foch at Nancy,
the headquarters of the twentieth
army corps. His corps was at
tached TO Gen. Castelnau'S army
and he was elected to command
a new army concentrating behind
the center of the forces march,
ing to the Belgian frontier to
meet the Germans.
This army was not ready i'm
time TO take part i'm the battle of
CharlerOi. but il contributed sin
guIarIy to the victory of the
Marine. FOCh's 10000 men, hold
ing center in that struggle, had
before them ready 2OO, 900 Ger
mans including Prussian guard
and times the pressure was 50 grea
that il seemed the thin line must
break.
''They are so frantic in their
attacks" said Foch. lit must be
that things arc going badly with
them elsewhere. SO let's hold
on"
At another stage of the strug-
gle aides came up with the dis
quieting news that both the
right and left wings had been
obliged TO give ground.
"In that case" said FOch,
"there is nothing To do but
smash them i'm the center. Order
up the Moors."
Gen. Dubois. with the MOors
on his left. smashed the Germans
80 hard i'm the center that the
Prussian guard was thrown
back upon and into the Saint
GOnd marshes. Won HauSen's
right wing was Obliged to retire
i'm unison. and Foch was able TO
reestablish his line.
After the Moroccan rifIemen by
three furious charges had cap
tured the chateau of MOndement,
reports brought by aViators show
ed that i'm their retirement the
forces of Won BueIow had left a
gap between their left wing and
Won Haussen's right. IL was by
promptly profiting from this sit
uatiOn, in maSsing his troops
against Won HauSsen's exposed
flank. that FOCh diSengaged Gen.
Langle de Cary's troops on his
right and contributed largely to
the defeat Of the German army.
AftPr the hattie of the Marine