Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21
WEYGAND CLOSEST
! FRIEND FOCH HAD
Figured in Critical Decisions
of Marshal During War and
Loyal in Peace.

I PARIS, April 20.-Gen Maxine Wey-
I gand, the most intimate friend of Foch
and the man upon whose shoulders de-
volved most of the sorrowful detail OF
the late marshal's obsequies, continues
to occupy the suite in the Invalides
Building where Foch housed his staff.
Weygand assumed charge of the ma
tional funeral for his departed chief,
executing the involved details with the
military speed and precision with which
he had carried out Foch'S instructions
concerning the armies-and the fate
of several nations.
Hatless and dishevelled, Gen. Wey-
gand, during the six days that elapsed
between Foch's death and the obsequies,
remained at the house of the marshal,
personally receiving all the distinguished
visitors; was at the Arc de Triomphe
for IA of the Is hours that the mortal
remains were exposed there, attended
the religious ceremony at Notre Dame
Cathedral and walked with the mar
shal's grandsons from the church to
the Invalides.
Tribute by Foch.
"Weygand, you are not only q great
general, not only great commander
of an army or group OF armies, but
you are a great leader born leader"
Foch told his former chief of staff
few days before his death. Weygand
was the only person not of the family
to enter. the sickroom. excepting the
doctors, from the time Foch was strick-
en- down, on January IA, Until his
death, March 90
A thin, alert little man, looking fully
q score of years younger than the 81
he may boast of, Weygand, when young
I er and apparently more robust aides
| were on the verge of collapse from the
strain, saw 1t through without falter.
Foch never failed to render publicly
to Weygand the credit due to him for
the invaluable work he had performed
while chief of staff.
Weygand himself seldom mentioned
his part of the task at the general staff.
To Foch and Foch alone was the vic
tory due, Weygand always insisted. "A
greater tactician than Hannibal or Tu-
renne on a par with Napoleon" was
the judgment of the general about his
chief.
Worth in Polish War.
Only once, as far as Weygand's in
Inmates know, did the general refer to
his share in the drafting of the. plans
which brought about the final aeteat OF
the central empires.
1t was during the attack OF SOVIET
Russia upon Poland. The Red armies
tula and were overlooking into the sub
urbs of Warsaw. The situation appeared
desperate, and the Polish government
appealed to France for assistance. Focn
sent them Weygand.
A supreme council of war at which
all the Polish generals, with Marshal
Pilsudski at their head, attended, was
. called Immediately upon the arrival OF
Weygand in Warsaw.
M
paign had convinced Weygand that err
rors had been committed by the Polish
staff. that resistance had been feeble
, at some points, entirely lacking else
where. Selling huge red pencil. ne
, began slashing upon the stan maps:
marking spots where batteries should
be placed for the defense Of Warsaw.
Pilsudski Queries Him.
A complete plan was drawn up in
few minutes.
Pilsudski, the report says, first looked
I'D in establishment: then interruptlng
Weygand, said very slowly and de-
liberately: General, you. forget am
a marshal of Poland. can't allow a
French general of division to speak 10
me in those terms and that tone;
There is only one man IN tn ne wolff oor1
from whom I should accept THIS sort
of talk. He is Marshal Foch.'
Weygand hesitated moment. then
blurted out: Marshal Foch always IN
vited the advice and suggestion OF my
self and other members of his stan.
That's why he was not only great
captain, but a great man."
Continue" said PilsudsN.
Weygand received the King OF the
Belgians when the latter made spe-
cial trip to Paris from Brussels to Visit
Nine. La Marechale and view the BODY
of Foch, the day after his death.
Albert Honors Foch.
= "Your majesty is doing France great
honor by this VISIT" Weygand told
Albert
II have come to see the last Of
friend and the saviour of Belgium, the
honor is mine" the King replied:
Weygand is regarded In mnltary
circles as the most capable general IN
the French Army.
Whether he will be made marshal
of France or not the future alone can
tell. It is said that the French govern
ment has no intention of creating any
more marshals not even to replace
Foch and Fayolle, who both died dur
ing the past year.
4