Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-28

country, it is necessary to remind all
that the time for retreat Is ended
Every effort must be made to drive
back the enemy. A soldier who can no
longer advance must guard the terri
tory already held. no matter what the
cost. He must be killed in his track
rather than draw back"
In line with that hard decree Is
cited maxim of Marshal Foch:
Victory goes always to those who
merit it by their greater force OF will
and intelligence"
Here is what Marshal Foch said of
the supreme importance Of the response
bility of "a general in cominand-the
high position which he assumed when
he was given command over all the
allied armies, including that Of the
Americans:
Great results in war are due to the
commander. History is therefore right
in making generals responsible for VIC
tories-in which case they are glorified;
and for defeats-in which case they are
disgraced. Without a commander, no
battle, no victory is possible.
rs 1t not again this influence OF the
commander, the very enthusiasm derived
from him, which alone can explain the
unconscious movements of the human
masses at those solemn moments when.
without knowing why 1t is doing so, an
army on the battlefield feels 1t is being
carried forward as If it were gliding
down slope?"
The same principles fit the battles of
civil life-fighting for health or business
success. There was no personal glori-
fication intended in the above express
sion; it is but the doctrine which
Marshal Foch had taught when he was
in command Of the Military Academy OF
France-the tremendous responsibility
of the supreme command. And today,
in disease or in business, Il am captain
of my SOUL"
Three years after the armistice
Marshal Foch visited America as guest
Of the American Legion and this is
what he said at the Legion meeting In
Kansas City concerning the American
Expeditionary Forces and their COM
mander:
After reviewing the work of the LIST
Army of America at st. Mihlel, the
Mouse and Argonne and the readl-
ness Of the I'd Army for the attack on
Metz, he referred to Armistice day and
added:
"a solemn hour which compensated
, for all the sacrifices so freely given for
the cause of the right.
1T Is you who have made these sac
rifices-more than $4,000 of your coun-
| trymen were buried in the soil Of
France. May they rest in peace!
Glory to you who survive them and
who enjoy victorious peace! Your
French brothers in arms watch over
them. You may well be proud of your
past exploits. Your country had asked
of you to lay low "a redoubtable enemy
You have placed him at your mercy
and after having assured every guar
anty for the liberty of our peoples you
have imposed upon him the peace which
our governments have dictated. Has
not your task been completely fulfilled7
las for me, the great honor of my
life will be to have guided along the
road to victory the American Army
OF 1918, which was real Grand Army,
| beginning with its commander"
He became, and has since remained
a member OF George Washington Post
No. /, American Legion, of the National
Capital.
An anonymous writer of book en-
titled "Foch; Essai de Psychologist Mill
taire." the author describing himself as
a former pupil Of the Higher Military
Scnool, when 1t was. commanded by Gen
Foch. thus sums up his character:
In every way Foch will be the gen.
eralissimo Of free nations in contrast
with the races of prey: he shall save
civilization Of the West from those who
would revert to the barbarism of the East
successor Of the Caesars of the Roman
Empire, he will be. Like them. the as
surance of human progress, so that NO
more. shall run the conquest of the
world, thereby doubly contributing to
the glory of his own country"
Copyright. 1922 by Paul ". Collins)