Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-11-26
FocH'S THEORY OF WAR.
Il 10 a Matter of Moral Force Rather
Than Military Science.

sketch of Marshal Foch in the London
Sunday Pictorial. which explains why
the retreating Germans were unable
either to understand or Withstand the
attacks Of the great French command
er. It reveals a character rather dif-
ferent from that which the newspa-
pers have impressed upon the public
mind, but the picture is none the less
interesting and soul-filling. His theory
of war, translated into American
terms, seems to be that the army
that never knows when it Is licked
will always be the winner. To quote:
* battle won Is a battle in which
one will, lot admit oneself vanquish-
ed.S
The author Of this aphorism was
slimB built man Of middle height VINO
had been quietly smoking cigars
Throughout a memorable February day
just three years ago.
And a battle is lost?" ventured.
The gray-blue eyes twinkled into a
smile.
"A battle lost" he said. ''ls battle
which one believes to be lost, for bat
ties are not lost materially"
my friends" he continued. 1T Is
therefore true that battles are won
morally"
II was General Foch who addressed
us-General Foch, who is today In su-
prene command Of the Allied armies
the elected champion Of civilization
aESs&s.l5lndenburs--and his Hunnish
hordes.
!! THAT Is Foch all over-Foch al
WAYS" said an old and intimate friend
when the general had left US for rev
minutes. He was born a mathemau-
clan. but he has the temperament OF a
philosopher"
And this idle, smoking-room descrip-
ton adequately fits the man to whom
the world in its hour Of agony TO-DAY
looks for victory. He has always re-
garded with philosophic doubt the
wisdom of applying to war the exact
science of mathematics.
At the battle Of the Marine, which his
brilliant strategy did SO much to win'
the forces of General Won Hausen
smashed in both wings Of Foch's army.
BY all the rules Of military mathemat-
les he should have Withdrawn his CEN
ter. Instead, with instant decision, ne
struck at the enemys center, and Won
Hausen's legions fell back in dismay.
When three years ago had the hon.
or of staying with General Foch at his
northern headquarters-a delightfui
old house, built by some old Flemish
architect for the arts Of peace rather
than the arts of war-he frequently
elaborated this view.
War, he told me, was not an exac'
science. The developments OF science
had, indeed, but increased the mental
and moral effort required Of each par
ticipant. 1t is only in the passions
aroused In each man by the conflict
that the combatant gains strength OF
will to face the hell Of modern war. In
the end the more enduring passion pre-
walls.
The man who talked like this In the
old Flemish house In the winter OF
1915 has studied the mere mathemat-
les of war all his working life. About
the same age as his chief mental an
tagonist, Ludendorfr. he was as youth
a gunner.
At the outbreak Of the present war
Foch, although already famous as a
writer on military strategy. was simply
corps commander at Nancy. Then'
as now, q great German army OF ma
neuver under the eyes Of the kaiser
was seeking a swift decision. Foch's re-
markable strategy cheated the Ger
mans then, and he awoke up one morn
ing to find himself In command OF an
army.
Afterward came Ypres.
It was 2 o'clock in the morning oil
November that Foch met French
] when the tide Of battle was running
strongly against US. It was suggested
for the sake Of prudence. that the Brit
ish should retire. The development oi
this suggestion was scattered by Foch's
interruption, uttered in those stirring
machine-gun-like sentences OF his
which know 80 we'll. This Is what ne
said:
THE Germans have sixteen corps
Very we'll. We have only ten' with
yours. II you retire I shall remain
Remain! The British army never dre"
back in its history. AS for myself
give you my word as soldier that
will die rather than retreat. Give me
yours!"
The soldiers round him listened In
silence. 1t was Lord French who
stepped forward and grasped Foch
firmly by the hand. In that hand
shake the doom Of the Germans al
Ypres was sealed.
A single incident will often illumi'
nate a character more than pages o'
description. That memorable inciden'
at Ypres explains General Foch.
Gentlemen. you have a great gener'
al" said Lord Roberts to the stan OF
General Foch when the British veteran
visited the front after the battle OF
Yprss.
I believe that Britain. France, Amer