The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-12-21

French officers to study the German
operations of 1870 calmly. Homes
attempts had been made, in fact the
Ecole de Guerre was established JUS
after the Franco-Prussian war as 6
part of the reorganization of the
French army, with view to discOv-
ering just what happened in 1870
! But until Foch was detailed to the
school in 1894 it was just like trying
to find out the manner in which Mr..
William Patterson had been assaulted.
1t was too soon after the war. for the
hearts of both officers and students
were too heavy with sadness over the
loss Of Alsace-Lorraine to investigate
the facts dispassionately.
/ Foch's Ant-German Strategy.
4 Foch was the first man to fill the
French with hope that French general
ship might be a match for German. AS
| calmly, as mathematically and as cold
bloodedly as the German general staff
! itself, Foch set to work to analyze for
his pupils German military science. He
arrived at conclusion just the OPP
| rosite to what might be expected. In
stead Of declaring that in the next
war France must beat Germany at her
own game, he emphasized that French
strategy must be the opposite Of Ger
man, that iron-clad plans must give
way to hexibflity.
These principles had an enormous
effect upon French staff work during
bo bn
were filled with enthusiasm over
Fochs maxims laid down in the School
of War in the late nineties, were the
division commanders and the corps
and army staff officers of the World
war That France alone of the allies
had well-trained and active-minded
staff officers in 1914 is largely due to
Foch.
Marshal Foch was born in Tarbes,
October 2, 1851 Boyish enthusiasm
over the campaigns of Napoleon-he |
had mastered Theirs "History of the
Consulate and the Empire" before he
was twelve-filled him with the am
bition to enter the army. The year |
previous to the Franco-Prussan war
he was studying at st. Clements, a
Jesuit college in Metz, where more
candidates for army COMMISSIONS were
taught than at any other school in
France. He enlisted as a private in
the Fourth regiment of infantry which
never got into action. Alsace-Lorraine
lost and with it his beloved school at
Metz, he entered the Polytechnique at
Fontainebeau, and after the usual gar
rison life he was detailed to the Ecole
de Guerre as assistant professor of
military history and strategy.
His Sense of Propriety
Two stories may be told to illustrate
Marshal Foch's sense of fitness OF
things There is the incident at his
car the night the German
arrived to negotiate for
an armistice. The military delegate
was wearing, among other decorations,
the cross of the Legion of Honor
which had been conferred upon him
before the war. The Germans filed
into the small room in Marshal FOch's
car and saluted Foch made no sign,
but stared at the red ribbon that
seemed SO out Of place among German
decorations. While his associates :
fidgeted, the German officer finally
saw great light and in silence re-
moved the French decoration Then a
Toch acknowledged the salute and en- Q
ered into a discussion of the arms .
ice terms.
Then there was his tactfu], punctili {
JUS behavior the day Of the Victory y
Tete in Paris, July IA, 1910. Prelim-
nary plans had Foch selected to lead
he allies march through the Arc de
rriomphe, but some friends of Joffre
threatened to make political capital
f the senior marshal of France did
lot have place at the head of the K
recession. 1t was a delicate matter
o decide which should precede the
Their. Foeh was generalissimo of the Is
llied land forces, yet in the French 4
rnly he was outranlSed by Joffre Il
It was finally decided that the mar (:
halls should ride side by side, but, 2
hanks to the tact Of Foch, neither is
the other. AS supreme com X
handler Of the Allies, Foch had the po- e
Ition of honor on the right, but r
throughout the whole five miles of the IS
larch through the streets Of Paris, IE
[arshal Foch was careful to keep his Il
orse at least yard behind Joffre. X
oeh's right of the line was offset by y
is allowing Joffre to ride few feet IS
bead and the difficulty was solved. r
IE