The Washington times., 1921-10-27
FOCH NO SEEKER
FORL|MEL|GHT,
SAYS yANK ACE

Continued from First Pase)
green lieutenant who had yet 20 bag
his first enemy plane; and he was
then General Foch. In charge OF the
Verdun armies.
Rumors Plentiful.
The customary rumors and pre-
dictions that always thrive where
two or more Yankee soldiers con-
gresate, were as thick as moiasses.
with the more or less official infor-
nation that the wizard Of strategy
was finally en- route. Everybody
had a different notion OF just what
he would be like. The very fact
that General Foch had. up to then.
received less advertising than any
other French leader threw an added
cloak OF curiosity around his visit.
The idea that he was so great but
had enjoyed so little spotlight was,
OF course. contrary TO all the prin-
ciples OF American advertising.
We who had expected a blare OF
bugles and q pompous. swaggering
individual, were keenly disappoint-
cd. l picked him out by gesture
which i had seen described many
times-his right hand was going up
and down, up and down, like pis-
ton In a cylinder. Inspecting our
squadron, as he was. group OF
American officers naturally escort
ed him but so far as a bodyguard
was concerned i do not think there
were more than two Of his own starr
In attendance.
That was the first inspiring inn
preston i received-and that / pre-
dict will be the descriptive keynote
OF the American press-his utter
disregard for vanity and splendor.
Those in America who are looking
for a show Of old-time sword rat.
Ting are expecting the wrong type
and will be presently disillusioned In
the lovable. retiring character who
is coming to our shores.
After his first visit to our head
quarters every last one of us felt
deeply attached. He manifested
such an enthusiastic concern in the
personnel OF our outfit and the
equipment Of our organization. He
wasted little time on nonessentials
quarters he dropped out of the party
to speak a word Of kindliness to a
noncommissioned officer nursing
wounded leg.
Loved BY Officers.
Repeatedly I heard officers high
In the French command speaking of
the life and virtue Of their supreme
leader. Many of them had been as
sociated with him for years. Many
Of them. the younger men. had
studied under him as a professor at
the general war college. where his
theories and principles became the
military precedent of France.
Among the trophies / brought
home with me to America / treas
ure none more highly than several
leaflets and facsimile letters about
this marshal of France. Just after
the armistice an Alsatian officer
gave me a copy of the following
letter which / Had read a hundred
times. 1t was written by Captain
Andre Dubarle. young student
under Foch. the professor, who was
later killed in action. So faithfully
does II convey the characteristics
Of Foch, the man that / am present
ing II in full:
General Foch is a former COM
mander Of the school of war where
he played. on account Of his great
fitness, a very remarkable role.
He Is a man still young. slender
and supple, and rather frail: his
powerful head seems like a flower
too heavy for a stem too light.
What first strikes one about him
is his clear gaze, penetrating. intel
lectual, but above all and In spite Of
his tremendous energy. luminous.
This light in his eyes spiritualizes a
countenance which otherwise would
be brutal, with it's mustache bris-
tling above a very prominent, domi-
nant jaw.
when he speaks, pointing lessons