Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-20
STORY OF MARSHAL FOCH'S CAREER
ANSWERS QUESTION, WHO AND WHY?
Little Known Four Years Ago, Now His Name
Is On Every Tongue-Quiet Man Is Hope
of Civilization; Nemesis of the Hun.

ana the war found him occupying the
headquarters of the Goth Corps, at
Nancy.
In the early days of the conflict he
was given the 9th French Army. In.
1915 he became chief of staff. In 1918
ne received the supreme command of
the allied armies in France and in the
same year was advanced to the rank
Of marshal of France, the highest pos
sible French military rank and one
shared only with Joffre.
Champion of "ofensive."
- It has been said that under Foch
ind ln:a technical and military way
what really happened in 1901.
Foch sought always to deduce from
TINS war a new and logical theory of
operations for new and reorganized
French army, and in this connection
one seems to find him, in the printed
words of his lectures, invariably re-
ducing military situations to a basis
of morale, and this morale is that of
Foch himself, an example of which is
ms dlctum that battle is not lost as
long as the faith in victory remains.
Also he is given the credit for the
idea, prevalent just before this war.
that in her next struggle France
must adopt the offensive at all costs,
He has followed this idea himself
lions, and now "everybody's doing it."
His Part in World War.
Within few weeks of the first rush
OF invasion he had played startling
part under the hero of the Marine in
repulsing the Germans from their
dash on Paris. With his 9th Army
he was in the center of things. In
the night of September 9. 1914, he
n
whole front" This counter offensive
was the turning point
Next 1T became essential to put an
officer north of the capital to try to
check the Germans in their rush for
the channel, and Joffre selected Foch.
obtain far more than they did is due
to Foch's correction of the many err
rors of his subordinates.
Foch played a heroic part in the
battle of the Somme in 1916, soon
after which Joffre retired from active
military life and Foch, the strategist
became chief of staff, with Petain in
supreme active command
Became Allied Commander.
Early in 1918 came the greatest of
all the Hun offensives- The adjust
ment of the allied command was
plainly unsatisfactory, and ultimately
Foch was made supreme commander.
Why? OF all Joffres subordinates he
had the most consistent record. This
record also stood best with the Eng
ish. nation slow to relish subordi-
nation on their part to the directions
of foreign soldier. Since the first
fighting around Ypres he had been
marked as the logical candidate for
a possible allied commander. British
headquarters both knew his ability
and admired and appreciated his tact
full methods.
The storm that was brewing broke.
notch. struck with SCATTERING impact
and broke part of the British army.
Then came the expected announce
ment-Ferdinand Foch was general
issimo of all the allied armies in
France. Not only universal approval
but universal enthusiasm followed
this choice Of plain, Woodworking
French soldier to lead the greatest
force ever gathered together. and no
nation was apparently more pleased
than the United States and it's rank
ing soldier, Gen. Pershing.
Typical French Soldier.
Foch. his associates and all France
claim, is the typical French soldier.
In him there seem to walk the
earth again some of the character
istics Of all French national military
heroes-from Chevalier Bayard down,
He is of medium height and rather
slender figure. His countenance is
grave and thoughtful-sad. perhaps
but not severe. and far removed from
the bulldog front of such an eminent
fighting type as Hindenburg. His
eyes. Of a grayish blue, are direct
and searching. In manner. like most
great men, he is plain, simple and
unassuming. His four-ietter name
will be remembered as long as cour-
age, skill and all knightly qualities
are appreciated by mankind.