The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-16
WASHINGTON, d. c..

limitation of armament which at present seems
- certain should have far greater importance
than mere ceremonial appearance signfying the de.
sire of official France to cooperate closely with the
United States in shaping world policy, provided
French interests and security are not endangered
When Marshal Foch speaks before the conference
on possibilities of disarmament when he expresses
his views in private conversations with American states
men, he will not do without diplomatic craft or
subtety but with simple candor and without mental
reservations. - . - = -. IS. - =.
He will represent the French view point as it is
fixed in certain convictions and principles and he VIII
not bulge one hair breadth whether they please VI
dsplease American opinion
His mind is as sharp sword, as finely tempered
as Toledo blade and as clean steel and his char
acter has fine simplicity which has no guile But
he is limited to certain lines Of thought which are
rather narrow He sees the world policy from one
angle of vision which is the future safety OF France
from German aggression revenge, and believes that
what he gained by the sword may only be held by the
sword. .a ...y.
He has little faith in German change of heart
and less perhaps in the possibility Of any political OF
philosophical changes among European peoples likely
to eliminate the menace Of war. He is hard, pract-
cal and realistic in his outlook and he will not sur;
render anything which seems to him to be essential
the safety and power OF France for vague deastlc
dreams or ideals which to, some of us seem the best
indeed, the
In his own country, like all great men, Marshal
Foch has enemies and critics. They mainly ad-
vsnced Democrats and Liberals who believe that Mar
shall Foch used his influence to maintain the maristic
and reactonary policy of the French government.
was startled and scandalzed when Frenchman said
to me: ,.- .....' -. ~ .--%.
: "Foch,, my dear sir, has the soul of grocer. He
measures up life with bit of string"
Tor Foch as soldier l have unbounded admiraA
i ton and If any one man may be said to have
ly at that desperate and critical time when the full
weight of the German offensive fell against the British
lines with lab divisions against ortyeght Foch came
himself to our lines, as | saw him then cool and
unruffled -, I'd: r.'. 81
- To General Plumer, commanding the British Second
Army, worn thin and hard pressed he said:
Willow many French divisions do you wantH
~ AMI when Plumer answered Foch wrote a note in
little pocket book and handed to Plumer 1t was
an l. O. u for certain French divisions There was
no hesitation, no red tape, grudgng conditions
and for three days afterwards the French roads were
white with dust and blue with endless columns Of
marching poius fulfilling that promise scrubbed in
Foch's note book.
He skinned his own front to strengthen the British
though he knew that before long the German army
would strike at him. When that attack happened he
withdrew his blue men from the British lines with
the same auicSness Of decision and lightning rapdity
of action with a margin of only twenty-four hours
between that movement and irretrievable defeat
At that time, when the Germans had broken
through the French 'front.' Paris threatened again,
and all Of us were in deep gloom, Foch sat at his
headquarters without sign of strain though
his nerves are sensitive. An English statesman, Lord
Miner who was with him in the same house during