Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-11-11
THE MAN BEHIND THE ARMIsTICE

No one man be given the credit of winning
the world for civilization. 1t not a man
affair Just as it not one-nation affair. 1t was
by the corporation and unstinted sacrifices Of
all those who fought the allied side, from the
highest geheralissmo 10 the humble Chinese coolie
who dug the trenches that sterner men occupied.
But II had to be singled out the
greatest contributor the of the
powers that would be Ferdinand Foch mar
shall OF France, and supreme commander of the al
lied forces
Verify, the marshal's baton not an idle en-
blen in his hands Like the conductor of a great
orchestra he marshaled his yariegated musicians
that each Instrument would contribute its maximum
to the finale of the magnificent symphony of sue.
cess
And that finale was the armistice, signed on the
eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh
month, two years ago today.
brief review of the events preceding this virtual
surrender of the greatest military machine that the
world has ever known, will serve to remind us of
Tie titanic problem that faced this Gray Man of
Christi as the deeply religious marshal has been
called, a..
In March, 1918. the German cohorts were menac-
ing Paris which at that moment the capital of
civilization Indeed, during that spring shells from
the onk-range gun that the Huns had planted in the
forest or Saint Gobain had burst upon the French
capital While Paris not panicstrcken, the feel
ing Of anxiety and tenseness plainly perceptible
At about this time. the allies put aside petty
jealousy, and agreed that General Focht who had
already distinguished himself at the first battle of
the Marne, Should be made the supreme commander
of the aHisB armies.
Naturally, the eyes of the world turned to him.
what wABIthis strange silent man going to do?
His debut generalissimo not theatrical.
walt a Bit" he contented himself in answering,
when questioned about the outlook.
yuntt - ~ Tbo+ oatiuf antnr
answer TO those who could hear the rumble of the
Crown Princes artillery. Surely, if Foch had had
press agent, he would not have made such reply.
But ne wab not that kind of man. .f.,
ma few weeks, however, the allied defense stiff
ened yisbly The Germans paying more and
more deafly for their gains in territory.
Finally. on July IS, when Marshal Foch had
drawn the Germans into Il difficult position the
Marine salient the Great Offensive began. The vic
tories Of Chateau Thiery, where the American
troops had their real baptism of fire; of Scissors
Perdhne Mehtdidier,, Laon. Lille, st. Mihel and
the 3Agsonhe followed.
The Germans were in full flight. Behind them,
between them and Berlin lay neutral country Hol-
lant.t They we're forced to surrender violate
Dutch neutrality. Which would they select
The question was fully answered. Many
of the kasers troops did intern themselves in HoI- |
land. ana many others surrendered The Hun morale
was broken
Then came the armistce Many of us thought it
premature, but Foch consented to it because
he felt that thousands OF allied lives would be saved
Indeed, he disclosed later that he had planned an
offensive for November a. 1918, which would have
been the coup de grace But this final drive was
made unnecessary by the German willingness to sub
nit to terms that really amounted to unconditional
surrender. .'s -a
This is the day celebrate. AS we beat our
drums and foot our trumpets, let us not forget the
quiet Frenchman who did most to make the day
worth celebrating
Nor must we forget the great allied leaders
like our own Perahing-who voluntarily subordinated
themselves to the command of Marshal Foch, SO that
perfect correlation might replace haphazard CO.
operation.
And last but not least, let us pay tribute today
TO those gallant Yanks that taught Europe what real
Americanism means