The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1920-10-13
.FOCH RELATES TALE -.
OF Marine BATTLE;
STORY OF DISCORD

memoirs. Never before has Frances
illustrious soldier talked so freely OF
the world war. Indeed, it is the first
time he has discussed in print at any
length the conflict which saved
France and made certain Germany's
defeat.
THE first Marne," Marshal Foch be-
gan, blowing clouds Of smoke from
his little old pipe toward the ceiling
What can l tell you that has not
been said?"
History of Musical Dlscord.
But the great soldier continued:
The German chieftans, Won Bulow,
Won Kluck and Won Hausen. dispute
our victory it seems, and the conquer
ed, in general, wish to appear each as
an individual victor. 1t is very cur
ious. To the minds of the Germans,
their defeat at the Marne is the his
Ssry of musical discord. Up until Sep
tCmber there was perfect, or almocf
perfect accord. From that date the
conductor went wrong. The German
general headquarters fell frankly into
the trap and afterward left the army
commanders to get out of ii the best
way possible.
This would not have been so bad
if only the commanders had had
clear understanding among them
selves. But each wanted ito play the
piece as if it were solo, and without
paying attention 70 his neighbor. The
result of this cacophony was the mlc-
tary fiasco that followed.
Puts Blame on General Staff
in other words, Marshall the inter-
viewer interposed, you hold the Ger
man general staff entirely responsible
for their defeat in that battle?"
Certainly. and the personal re-
sponsibility of their generals comes
only afterward' FOch answered.
The Germans started out with
plan already made, a rigid plan. one
Of those plans that can come out ONLY
from the other side of the Rhine. and
which leaves nothing to the unfof-
seen"
The marshal went on to describe
Won Klucks precipitate advance,
which, he said was stupefying, but
which resulted in a certain confusion
In the general movement forward.
But the Staff Was Miles Away.
But" he remarked, lin the minds
Of the great strategists of Berlin
everything should have gone through
as planned, without a flaw. And, there
fore. we saw Won Kluck's flank bit
neuver. The confusion increased.
There was but one thing for the Ger
man general staff to do. 1t was ito
take a firmer grip. resume control
Of the wavering armies, and re-estab-
lish that unity which bound them to-
gether only by the slightest hairs.
But what does the German general
staff do? The German staff, which is
at Luxembourg, does absolutely moth
ing, says absolutely nothing. At Lux
emburg! Can you imagine Joffre 5
headquarters at Lyons or Marseilles:
Marshal Foch then described in a
few terse phrases the disarray INTO
which all the other German armies
fell, in their turn, under the concen-
trated attacks of the French. lmper-
turablc confidence on their rigid plans
was largely 10 blame for the German
failure. he observed. and to this mis-
taken idea the German high command
clung tenacioUsly throughout the wa.
All Packed for Trip to Versailles
TO illustrate this tenacity, the mar
shall told an anecdote related to hlin
bv the burgOmaSter at Spa.
IN July, 1918, on the eve OF the
great German offensive, there was
great movement and confusion in Spa,
ters: there was the stirring around,
the shouting and general excitement
that usually occurs before all great
events. The coming event was intend
ed TO be a great one, because every
thing at headquarters was packed up
even to the sentry boxes outside the
kaisers villa The burgOmaSter, be
coming anxious, inquired discrectly
what was happening.
eve are going to Versailles, the
sentries told him.
"Onlv that I don't know whether
the sentry boxes came back said the
marshal smiling but what is certain
is that on the Goth or 27th-l don't
renember the exact date-the burgo
master saw the kaiser and his suite
returning, all very much disgruntlcd
There was 10 longer any question or i
Journey to Versailles. GOuraud and
Mangin, with whom they had not
counted, had cut short this prone
made"
Foch Relates Own Experience.
Then Foch entered into some Dc
tails about his own experience at the
battles of the Marne Things had beer
going very badly, he said; reinforce
aDpeared too weary to attack Finally
it was agreed to postpone the advance
until the next morning. Then sudden
ly a telephone rung and voice SAID
we are at Fere Champenose."
This unexpected news telling OF pro
gross of the French troops far into the
German lines, filled the marshal witt
loy. Immediately, by telephone, ne
ordered a general onslaught along tho
whole line. Division commanders rc
piled: I'VE cannot; we do not dare.
Streets Uttered with Bottles.
Forward" Foch retorted.
Il. myself, arrived at Fere Champ2
noise at midday" the marshal told hi:
interviewer. Il had never seen suCf
a spectacle. Literally it was 1mpos
sible to advance in motor car or horse
hack or afoot the streets were so eli
numbered with bottles. All, they hat
enioyed themselves the night before
those boches. They got on such jaE