The Indianapolis times., 1922-12-16

tIOUEu1uGu TONI IdSC ~
countrymen. That, admit, is not
very long.
Gratitude is like nanna-it must be
gathered and enjoyed quickly, for it's
freshness quickly disappears. But in
the early months OF 1919, Marshal
Foch was still sitting at the banquet
table of popular favor. His word on
all questions affecting the security and
destiny of France was heard with a
Difference which no other man in
France could succeed in securing. He
had also a quality which is not
usually an attribute Of geperalship--
for he was a lucid, forceful and
picturesque speaker.
I'VE Must Stay There"
On April 1s. 1919, there appeared
in the London Times an interview
with Marshal Foch. I take these
salient passages:
And now, having reached the
Rhine, we must stay there went
on the marshal, very emphati-
eaIIy. Impress that upon your
fellow cOuntIymen. It's our only
safety; their only safety. We
must double lock the door.
"Democracies like ours which are
never aggressive must have strong
natural frontiers. Remember that
these seventy millions or people will
always be a menace to us. Do not
trust appearances of the moment.
Their natural characteristics have not
changed in four years. Fifty years
hence they will be what they are to-
day.
From the table at the other end
Of the room Marshal Foch brought
a great map. six or eight feet square,
on which the natural features Of this
part of western Europe were marked.
The Rhine was a thick line of blue.
To the west of the river the marshal
had drawn in pencil a concave arc
representing the new frontier that
France will receive under the peace
treaty. 1t was clearly an arbitrary
political boundary conforming to no
natural feature of the land.
"No Natural Obstacle"
look at that said Marshal Foch
There's no natural obstacle along
that frontier Is It there that we can
hold the Germans II they attack us
again? No. Here. here, here And
he tapped the blue Rhine with his pen
cilg Here we must be ready to face
our enemies. This is the barrier which
will take some crossing. If the Ger
mans try to force a passage over the
Rhine-Hol Ho! but here-touching
the black pencilled line running north
west from Lorraine past Saar valley
to the Belgian frontier-'here there Is
nothing.
"'No. if you are wise you insist
on having your locks and wall anc
we must have our armies on the
Rhine. Some people object that 1t
will take many troops to hold the
Rhine. Not so many as 1t would take
to hold the political frontier. For the
Rhine can be crossed only at certain
places, whereas the new political from
tier of France can be broken any
where and would have to be held IN
force along it's entire length.
Nature has only made one bar
rier-the Rhine. This Darr1er
must be forced on Germany
HencefOrward the Rhine will be
the western frontier OF the Ger
manic peoples.
He repeated this demand In a SUD-
seouent memorandum. Many OF US
recall his dramatic irruption into the
placid arena of the Peace Conferences
| in May, 1919, still brandishing the
| same theme.
Is Not Statesman
It may be said that Marshal Foch
is not, and does not pretend to be,
statesman. He is only a great soldier
| Nevertheless, his political influences
was so great that even in 1920 he
overthrew the most powerful states
man in France within a month after
| his triumphant return at the polls
with huge supporting majority In
| the French Parliament. It was Mar
shall Foch who. by his antagonism,
was responsible for NJ. Clemenceau's
defeat at the Presidential election of
\ 1920. But for Marshal Foch's inter
vention NJ. Clenenceau would have