The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-06-02
FOCH'S ALTER EGO.


Raymond C. Carroll, one of the best inform
ed of American correspondents in France during
the war and at present the London correspon-
dent Of the Philadelphia Public Ledger, says it
is the belief of many competent military critics
that General Weygand and not Marshal Foch is
the great soldier of France
Foch, he says, has received all the praise and
Weygand has done the work. Weygand is Foch's
chief of staff. Foch, it is declared, has temper
amental defects that weigh heavily against him
while Weygand is a marvel of patience and capa-
bility, devoted to Foch, more devoted to France
and content to let the marshal get all the honor
so long as victory came to the allies, says Rich
ard Spiane.
Mr.. CAROLS report may be correct There
is nothing singular in the fact that ques-
ton Foch's abilities. 1t always has been so. In
Napoleon's time there were persons who credited
to Bertrand much of work that Napoleon did.
Hamilton even to this day Is believed to have
planned the campaigns of Washington. Certain
ly Hamilton saved the Immoral George from a
horrible .blunder when the Father of His Coun-
try had everything arranged to kidnap General
Howe, the British commander at New York
Hamilton did not learn of the plot until the
day before it was to be sprung Howe's head
quarters were in Broadway near where the
Bowling Green building now stands. 1t was his
custom to remain at headquarters until late in
the evening, incidentally indulging literally in
port wine of which he was inordinately fond.
Then when sleepy and unattended he would walk
unattended along bit of lane to his home some
distance in the rear and not far from the river
The plan was to seize, bind and gag him, hustle
him to a boat and row in haste to Paulus Hook,
Jersey City, and take him to Washington's
headquarters in Jersey.
Hamilton, when he learned of the scheme, pro-
tested. General" he said to Washington, Howe
is blockhead. We know his mental processes
We know what he will do in every circumstance.
If we seize him the British will put another man
in command. He cannot be more stupid 1t
will take long time to study him and learn
to check his moves. There is possibility the
British may select a capable officer That
would embarrass US. We have nothing to fear
while Howe commands and much to lose if he is
removed by u.s."
Washington called off the kidnappers
Mad Anthony Wayne gets the honor for the
capture of Stony Point, yet the scheme was sug-
gested by COL Fluery of the French force in
America and, when Wayne was wounded, it was
Fluery who took command. Effort has been
MADE to credit Fluery with the triumph He is
entitled to much credit, but it was Wayne whose
dash and spirit made victory possible
Nearly every great commander has had his
detractors. Grant had hundreds of them Pos
sibly Hannibal Alexander Charlemagne and the
others we're not immune
Weygand may be marvel as a chief of staff
just as was Bertrand but no one who studies
the campaigns of Foch can doubt where the
genius IS In every move you can see Foch for
years and years before in his lectures as a mill
tary instructor he laid down the exact principles
that underlay the allies movements from May,
1918, up to the great day, November IL, when
the Germans cried Halt, Enough
Foch has one theory in war: Strike, strike
hard Never give rest to the enemy and never
let him know where you will strike next.
Read his lectures and you will not believe in
the Weygand tale.