Foch the Man: a Life of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Armies

Part 1

E-text prepared by Al Haines

FOCH THE MAN

A Life of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Armies

CLARA E. LAUGHLIN

With Appreciation by Lieut.-Col. Edouard Requin of the French High Commission to the United States

With Illustrations

Revised and Enlarged Edition

New York -------- Chicago Fleming H. Revell Company London and Edinburgh Copyright, 1918, 1919, by Fleming H. Revell Company First Printing - November 11, 1918 Second Printing - November 19, 1918 Third Printing - November 29, 1918 Fourth Printing - December 7, 1918 Fifth Printing - January 9, 1919 Sixth Printing - May 1, 1919

DEDICATION

TO THE MEN WHO HAVE FOUGHT UNDER GENERAL FOCH'S COMMAND. TO ALL Of THEM, IN ALL GRATITUDE. BUT IN AN ESPECIAL WAY TO THE MEN OF THE 42D DIVISION, THE SPLENDOR OF WHOSE CONDUCT ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1914, NO PEN WILL EVER BE ABLE ADEQUATELY TO COMMEMORATE.

Dear MADEMOISELLE LAUGHLIN:

I have read with the keenest interest your sketch of the life of Marshal Foch. It is not yet history: we are too close to events to write it now, but it is the story of a great leader of men on which I felicitate you because of your real understanding of his character.

Christian, Frenchman, soldier, Foch will be held up as an example for future generations as much for his high moral standard as for his military genius.

It seems that in writing about him the style rises with the noble sentiments which inspire him.

Thus in form of presentation as well as in substance you convey admirably the great lesson which applies to each one of us from the life of Marshal Foch.

Please accept, Mademoiselle, this expression of my respectful regards.

LT.-COLONEL E. REQUIN.

"THEY SHALL NOT PASS!"

Three Spirits stood on the mountain peak And gazed on a world of red,-- Red with the blood of heroes, The living and the dead; A mighty force of Evil strove With freemen, mass on mass. Three Spirits stood on the mountain peak And cried: "They shall not pass!"

The Spirits of Love and Sacrifice, The Spirit of Freedom, too,-- They called to the men they had dwelt among Of the Old World and the New! And the men came forth at the trumpet call, Yea, every creed and class; And they stood with the Spirits who called to them, And cried: "They shall not pass!"

Far down the road of the Future Day I see the world of Tomorrow; Men and women at work and play, In the midst of their joy and sorrow. And every night by the red firelight, When the children gather 'round They tell the tale of the men of old. These noble ancestors, grim and bold, Who bravely held their ground. In thrilling accents they often speak Of the Spirits Three on the mountain peak.

O Freedom, Love and Sacrifice You claimed our men, alas! Yet everlasting peace is theirs Who cried, "They shall not pass!"

ARTHUR A. PENN.

Reprinted by permission of M. Witmark & Sons, N. Y.

Publishers of the musical setting to this poem.

CONTENTS

I. WHERE HE WAS BORN

Stirring traditions and historic scenes which surrounded him in childhood.

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II. BOYHOOD SURROUNDINGS

The horsemarkets at Tarbes. The school. Foch at twelve a student of Napoleon.

III. A YOUNG SOLDIER OF A LOST CAUSE

What Foch suffered in the defeat of France by the Prussians.

IV. PARIS AFTER THE GERMANS LEFT

Foch begins his military studies, determined to be ready when France should again need defense.

V. LEARNING TO BE A ROUGH RIDER

Begins to specialize in cavalry training. The school at Saumur.

VI. FIRST YEARS IN BRITTANY

Seven years at Rennes as artillery captain and always student of war. Called to Paris for further training.

VII. JOFFRE AND FOCH

Parallels in their careers since their school days together.

VIII. THE SUPERIOR SCHOOL OF WAR

Where Foch's great work as teacher prepared hundreds of officers for the superb parts they have played in this war.

IX. THE GREAT TEACHER

Some of the principles Foch taught. Why he is not only the greatest strategist and tactician of all time, but the ideal leader and coordinator of democracy.

X. A COLONEL AT FIFTY

Clemenceau's part in giving Foch his opportunity.

XI. FORTIFYING FRANCE

How the Superior War Council prepared for the inevitable invasion of France. Foch put in command at Nancy.

XII. ON THE EVE OF WAR

True to his belief that "the way to make war is to attack" Foch promptly invaded Germany, but was obliged to retire and defend his own soil.

XIII. THE BATTLE OF LORRAINE

How the brilliant generalship there thwarted the German plan; and how Joffre recognized it in reorganizing his army.

XIV. THE FIRST VICTORY AT THE MARNE

"The Miracle of the Marne" was Foch. How he turned defeat to victory.

XV. SENT NORTH TO SAVE CHANNEL PORTS

Foch's skill and diplomacy in that crisis show him a great coordinator.

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XVI. THE SUPREME COMMANDER

How Foch stopped the German drive that nearly separated the French and English armies.

XVII. BRINGING GERMANY TO ITS KNEES

The completest humiliation ever inflicted on a proud nation.

XVIII. DURING THE ARMISTICE--AND AFTER

How Foch carries himself as victor.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Marshal Foch at the Peace Conference . . . . . . Frontispiece

The room in which Ferdinand Foch was born

The house in Tarbes where Foch was born

Ferdinand Foch as a schoolboy of twelve

The school in Tarbes

Marshall Joffre--General Foch

General Petain--Marshal Haig--General Foch--General Pershing

General Foch--General Pershing

Marshal Foch, Executive head of the allied forces

Ferdinand Foch, Marshal of France

FOREWORD TO REVISED AND ENLARGED EDITION

When the Great War broke out, one military name "led all the rest" in world-prominence: Kitchener. Millions of us were confident that the hero of Kartoum would save the world. It was not so decreed. Almost immediately another name flashed into the ken of every one, until even lisping children said Joffre with reverence second only to that wherewith they named Omnipotence. Then the weary years dragged on, and so many men were incredibly brave and good that it seemed hard for anyone to become pre-eminent. We began to say that in a war so vast, so far-flung, no one man could dominate the scene.

But, after nearly four years of conflict, a name we had heard and seen from the first, among many others, began to differentiate itself from the rest; and presently the whole wide world was ringing with it: Foch!

He was commanding all the armies of civilization. Who was he?

Hardly anyone knew.

Up to the very moment when he had compassed the most momentous victory in the history of mankind, little was known about him, outside of France, beyond the fact that he had been a professor in the Superior School of War.

Now and then, as the achievements of his generalship rocked the world, someone essayed an account of him. They said he was a Lorrainer, born at Metz; they said his birthday was August 4; they said he was too young to serve in the Franco-Prussian war; and they said a great many other things of which few happened to be true.

Then, as the summer of 1918 waned, there came to me from France, from Intelligence officers of General Foch's staff, authoritative information about him.

And also there came those, representing France and her interests in this country, who said:

"Won't you put the facts about Foch before your people?"

If I could have fought for France with a sword (or gun) I should have been at her service from the first of August, 1914, when I heard her tocsin ring, saw her sons march away to fight and die on battlefields as familiar to me as my home neighborhood.

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Not being permitted that, I have yielded her such service as I could with my pen.

And when asked to write, for my countrymen, about General Foch, I felt honored in a supreme degree.

In due course we shall have many volumes about him: his life, his teachings, his writings, his great deeds will be studied in minutest details as long as that civilization endures which he did so much to preserve to mankind.

But just now, while all hearts are overflowing with gratefulness to him, it may be--I cannot help thinking--as valuable to us to know a little about him as it will be for us to know a great deal about him later on.

My sources of information are mainly French; and notable among them is a work recently published in Paris: "Foch, His Life, His Principles, His Work, as a Basis for Faith in Victory," by Rene Puaux, a French soldier-author who has served under the supreme commander in a capacity which enabled him to study the man as well as the General.

French, English and some few American periodicals have given me bits of impression and some information. French military and other writers have also helped. And noted war correspondents have contributed graphic fragments. The happy fortune which permitted me to know France, her history and her people, enabled me to "read into" these brief accounts much which does not appear to the reader without that acquaintance. And distinguished Frenchmen, scholars and soldiers, including several members of the French High Commission to the United States, have helped me greatly; most of them have not only close acquaintance with General Foch, having served as staff officers under him, but are eminent writers as well, with the highest powers of analysis and of expression.

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