UNIFYING ALLIED COMMAND IN THE WEST.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 77, 1 April 1918, Page 5

UNIFYING ALLIED COMMAND IN THE WEST.

i FOCH TO TAKE SUPREME COMMAND OF BOTH ARMIES. LONDON, March 31. The "Daily Chronicle" states that General Foch has been appointed generalissimo of the Allied armies on the western front in conformity with the wishes of Sir Douglas Haig and General Petain. The "Chronicle" adds that General Foch's appointment involves no reflection on Sir Douglas Haig or General Petain. It 'is the inevitable outcome of the military situation and emanated from the soldiers themselves. Unity' of command is vital and necessary. The Allies have suffered sadly through lack of co-ordination. General Foch's claims are indisputable. The "Daily News" protests against the appointment, which it says is full of dangers. Friction will be set up the first time the generalissimo's orders are not approved. An army can stand defeat under its own chiefs but not under a foreign general.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) The special correspondent with the French army,, says that developments on the northern front show that the Germans adhere to the hope that they can divide the Allies and then, with a great rolling-up.movement, capture the armies and their supplies between Ypres and Boulogne and make their way towards Calais. The sturdy confidence of the French is founded on the knowledge that the questibn of strategical co-ordination has been settled between the French and the British high commands, ensuring the most effective unity of operations throughout. When the Germans deliver their reinforced general attack they will find the Allies consolidated and strengthened and ready to take the initiative in a very wide counter-attacking movement. The Allies are able to choose their own time and place.—("Times") No official announcement has yet been made concerning General Foch's appointment as Allied generalissimo, but the statement that it has been made is generally accepted as correct. —(Reuter.) (Received 8.30 a.m.) The "Star" states that Sir Douglas Haig. and General Petain's powers will not he curtailed. General Foch co-ordinates, but does not possess executive control over both armies.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) WASHINGTON, March 31. President Wilson congratulated General Foch on his new high command in France. It iB believed that Foch has been appointed generalissimo.—(A. and NZ Cable.) f General Foch, according to Joffre, is "the greatest strategist in Europe, and the humblest." His latest post was Military Adviser to the French Government, to which post he was recalled from that of ranking member of the InterAllied Military Council formed at the Rapalto Conference. Ferdinand Foch is the man who won the battle of the Marne, and who prevented the Germans from breaking through to Calais. General Foch was born on October 2,-1851, and iB just three months older than Joffre. Like his former chief, he is a mountaineer - and a Southerner. This accounts for- the fiery temperament, the swift, impetuous decisions of Foch; but he is a man of admirable self-control, .and. never allows -his emotions to show on the surface. In manner he is quiet and reserved as Joffre himself. After 1870, when Foch fought as a sub-lieutenant of artillery, he was sent abroad and did good service in the colonies. His first real promotion came in 1877, when he was made a captain for distinguished services in the field. As soon as he reached the rank of brigadier-general, Foch was sent back to the War Oflice and given one of the most important and confidential posts in the French Arnjy. He became Director of the Ecole de Guerre, and had special charge of the artillery equipment of the French Army. Indeed, Foch more than any other man. is responsible for the "155 long," and during his tenure of office the organisation of the great arm and ammunition factories of theCreusot was immensely improved by his suggestions. It is said that he even wnrked there as a common labourer to get better acquainted with the routine and organisation.A very strict disciplinarian, Foch is beloved of his men. He treats them like human beings, and although he is very severe on shirkers he is liberal in rewarding effort and merit wherever he finds it: He has time and again declared in ■ his lectures that the present war was inevitable, and he was ready when it came. When the Germans swept on towards Paris in the early part of September, 1914, and the French Government had fled to Bordeaux, it was Foch who found the weak spot between the armies of Yon Kluck and the Crown Prince, when he cut. 1 to pieces the army of Yon Buelow. . Just at the right moment he threw a wedge in between the Prussian Guard and the Saxon troops, and the German com-' menders were forced to change their plans. Joffre seized the opportunity and ordered a general advance. If they could not advance they were to die where they stood, but not another foot of French territory was to be yielded to the enemy. The invaders were halted, and then thrown back to the Aisne. Six weeks later, when Antwerp had fallen and the gallant Belgian army was making its stand on the Yser, with the famous Seventh Ifivision of the British cavalry holding the freshly-dug trenches of Ypres, Foch rushed the French Tenth Army to tfie rescue just in the nick of time. The invaders were thrown back across the Yser at Rampscappelle, the sluice gates were opened, thousands of Germans were drowned, and an impassable barried of flooded marshes placed athwart the road to Calais, •