The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-11-12
PROPHECY REGARDING =.
FOCH.. COMING TRUE

An acquaintance Of Marshal Foch's
school days recalls in recent issue
Of the Gaulois how one day, shortly
after the Germans, had taken the
fortress of Metz from the French,
while Foch was student of the In
stitute Polytechnique Of Metz, one
of the old teachers at the; college,
Father Saussier, prophesieds that
Foch would some day be one of those
to replace the French banner ON the
Cathedral of Metz. In. tribute to
Foch the writer in Lee Gaulois de-
clares:
"The glory of Foch iilun1ines at
this moment two French, Cities now
suffering martyrdom, Metz and
Nancy. They occupy SO much space
In the life Of the, new marshal Of
Frence!
ut was in Metz that Foch pre-
pared himself for the army. His
father sent him to the College Stint
Clement, directed by the Jesuits.
"The writer of these lines, faith
full Of the university, counts among
his best friends former students Of
Saint Clement, always full OF graft
tude to their former teachers. One
Ct these teachers, whom in respect
FOR his knowledge and Righteousness
we will pardon his originality, made
he following prophetic statement
bout Foch:
Decisive character; geometrical
mind; has in him the stuff of poly
technician.' q"
"At that early period the poly
echnician was already a man. His
| elbow students granted him the prize
{ wisdom with unanimity.
"All of Foch's fellow students
~emember his appearance at the age
{ Is. He was energetic and mild, at
he same time savage and sincere.
impetuous and thoughtful, with
blonde hair and square chin, walking
with q STOPPING head but always
looking at people directly in the
face. This habit of walking with a
stopping head. once almost cost his
life. One day while walking in the
corridor of Saint-Clement he struck
against one of his friends, Rivet de
Chaussepierre, who was running in
the opposite direction. The terri
bic shock hurled them both to the
pavement After they had been
picked up and cared for In a hos
pital they loved each other the more
afterward, as both regretted their
thoughtlessnes which might have
cost the life of the comrade.
What became of the other? He
was killed in the war Of 1870 in
front Of Metz, where he served as a
lieutenant. Foch said: Beautiful
death! Rivet de Chaussepierre, we
envy thee. Earlier or later, with one
unanimous effort, we will run against
Germany head erect
After the war of 1870 Foch re-
turned to Metz to finish his prepara-
lions for the polytechnic school. All
Of Metz was full of the odor of the
barbarian invasion. In this choking
atmosphere Foch worked with all his
passion His two teachers, Father
La Couture, excellent mathematician,
and Father Saussier, former naval
officer, prophesied the career which
was to open for their favorite pupil.
"'You will see,' said Pere Saussier,
that Foch will be one of those to
replace the French banner over
there And he pointed with his
finger at the spire of the cathedral.
"'I will not see it, perhaps re-
piled Father LIE Couture, but surely
Metz will see it.
"1n July, 1871, Foch went to
Nancy to take his written examina-
tions. At that time, though, Nancy
was not annexed like Metz, but it
was invaded just as Metz, while the
Germans were waiting till the ran
som should be paid. General Man
teuffel was living in the government
palace, in the office later occupied
by Marshal Foch at the eve of the
war of 1914.
when Foch finished his last COM
position he listened to the end of
the hateful German retreat and ut
| tered the great oath which has d.
| rected all his existence.
"Forty-two years later, in August,
1913, when he was made commander
| of the twentieth corps in Nancy, he
ordered a demonstration without
, precedent on his arrival in the city.
The bands and the bugles of six regi-
| ments played with marvellous effect
| the 'Marche de Sambre-et- Meuse,' the
| famous battle music of the French
army. 1t seemed to Foch that the
air in Nancy was purified at last. -.
From the New York Tribune Press
; Bureau