Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-15

The government of France announces
as its policy that when the surviving
marshals of the army die, the rank will
be suppressed-no new marshals will
be appointed. This raises the question
as to what qualities have marked the
present marshals of that country-or OF
any country-which have given them
may aspire to it. Are those pre-eminent
qualities of use only in time of war, or
may they also function to advantage in
the conflicts of peace? For peace has
its struggles no less renowned than war.
If the young man without fortune or
influence to back him in achieving sue
cess, could know the secret OF winning
battles, would that secret aid his own
campaign against difficulties?
II
It would be impossible, within the
limits of space and time which restrict
this column. TO undertake to review,
however superhcially, the careers OF the
famous marshals of France, and, even
if that were possible. it might fail to
illumine the very point which Is sought.
But, perchance, If each marshal Is
found to manifest one trait of character
like all the others, we might decide
that that common trait is of special
significance.
For example, there lived, a few
centuries ago, Marshal Turenne, who
was very successful in nearly all OF his
battles, yet he never forgot that defeat
lay just ahead of hin1--if he blundered
or hesitated. Consequently, he never
faced battle with indifference or over
confidence.
A day came when, with his army, he
was confronted by superior force. He
knew the danger, and. being human.
he realized the necessity of bravery and
calmness. Yet his knees were shaking
He rebuked himself:
Thou tremblest Carcass? II thou
knewest whittier 1 shall lead thee,
presently. thou mightest we'll tremble -
So he gave the command to his army
and led the charge-to victory.
The old-time writer of stories with
moral would ask:
How many business men find them
selves trembling on the eve of a new
venture, so that they hesitate-bungle
and fail! How many youths look at
the tasks and andicaps-instead of at
their own hearts-and give up before,
the battle is even begun! If Dad, does
not bring up his reserves before the
charge, how can such feeble folks win
anything in life? Yet no battle was
ever fought by reserves in advance of
the shock troops Self-reliance and
courage to take chances and fight for
victory are the shock troops"
Marshals Foch, Joffre, Petain. Lyau-
tey, Fayolle and Franchet d'Esperey
had different ideas of tactics than to
use the reserves before the battle called
for them. All of those marshals recog-
nized that battles were won by the
hearts OF courage.
One of the most famous crises of the
World War was described in an official
dispatch from Gen. Foch Qater supreme
marshal of all the armies of the allied
and associated nations), and 1t is a key
note of his character. 1t was while he
held one of the most crucial sectors in
the First Battle OF the Marine that he
reported:
Pressed strongly on my right my
center in retreat: impossible for me to
move: situation excellent: I attack"
Try that sort of situation on a young
man starting in business. Note whether
when his plans are going wholly awry
he rises in joy, crying: Situation excel
lent; now I'll win, for I'll fight all the
harder!"
Here is the comment on that Foch
report made by one of his biographers,
Commandant A Grasset:
"Bombast? No, certainly not! For
with the telephone at his ears, while
chewing cigar, the reports of the
alarmists coming to him from all SIDES.
he followed in his thoughts the prog
ress of the offensive OF Maunoury on
the Ourcq and that of Franchet
d'Esperey on the Little NORM. He must
hold, hold at any price, for victory goes
to those who merit 1t by the greatest
power OF will. And the more feeble
one Is, the more one must attack. To
those troops which bore the Illusion of
fatigue he gave the order to attack in
advance. Supported by the army of
d'Esperey, the AID Division gained
ground Elsewhere, they did not ad-
vance. but the astonished enemy halted. !
and the essential positions were held
till night"
This incident which turned the bat !
tie. was not accidental nor was 1t bluff; !