The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-30
IS Persons Are Killed and 90 Wounded Whel
Shell From Long Range Gun Hits Paris Church
Sketch of
GeneralFoch
ny the A.socIa led Press

Gen. Ferdinand Foeh, who has been
placed in 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 Alsace-Lorraine, Foch preferred to re-
turn to France and help to prepare
France for the present German invasion.
He entered the polytechnic school with
the number q. He left it the forty-fifth
of his class-a rank that was not con-
sidered as justifying hopes of a great
future. He never ceased study except to
teach.
Foch won notice by mastering the
strategy of the war or 1870 in its minut-
est details, knowing the mentality of
the Germans he counted upon their re-
peating in future 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
rapidly, after long generalization, and
most minute preparation, the swift thun-
a struggle of colossal proportions
TO parry the blow, Foch said repeatedly
France must have a staff working in the
same direction, practcng the same doc
trineS under a vigorous and audaclous
chief, shrking no responsibility, preserv-
ing the equilibrium of his mind and the
forces of his Intelligence under formula
BILE difficulties and exercising without
hesitation the most redoubtable rights
over his subordinates.
The stars of a general were given Foch
in 1907 and the command of the Superior
war school, where he left his mark as
professor. Preferring a more active COM
mand he resigned in 1872 and COM
manded successfully the Eighth and
Twentieth army corps, and proved that
he was one of the few military writer's
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.
Els corps was attached to General
Castelnau's army and he was selected
to command new army concentrating
behind the center of the forces march
ing to the Belgian frontier to meet
the Germans This army was not
ready in time to take part. in the bat
tie of Charleroix, but it contributed
singularly to the victory of the Marine.
+ och's 10000 men, holding the CEN
ter in that struggle, had before them
nearly 100000 Germans, including the
Prussian guard. and at times the pres
sure was great that it seemed the
thiE line must break.
"They are so frantic in their at
tacks." said Foch, ut must be that
things are going badly with them else
where. So let's hold on
At another stage of the struggle
aides came up with the disquieting
rows that both the right and loft
wings had been obliged to give ground.
In that ease, said Foch there's
nothing to do but smash them in the
center. Order UP the Moors."
After the battle of the Marine Toch
was given command of a group of
armies operating in the north Of
France and promoted to a grand officer
IN the Legion of Honor. King George
conferred upon him the Order OF the
Bath first class.