A MAN OF CALM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 15, 20 January 1919, Page 8

A MAN OF CALM

PICTURES «P FftCtt. M'. Rene Puaux, in Jn» “Marshal Foch,” has his impressions of the great soldier who holds the supreme command of the Allies (says“H.W.W. dfi the Daily Mail). It is not a connected biography, but rather a aeries of notes, yet It gives an admirable picture of the leader and the naan. Theca/m of Foch ■is one of his great qualities. Oh the eve of the most critical da/ ™ the first Battle of the Marne, when the fate of his country and the world hong in the balance, "he went out for a walk with his A.DJC. • Lieut. Ferasson, of'the artillery, and they talked about economics and , metallurgy. Duung the German offensive at Armor'Vvies this year, when the Germans seemed almost within sight of Calais, a friend found him quietly working. “He went straight to the point, but with that calm which in him is ch vactc nsiic of the measure of his bought. Ris voice was never raised, his gestures were contained ; his eyes were sometimes haltclosd.” . j In his face is a look of ser.it ivy a?. 3 of’■sorrow. ~ , . ’ 'At certain times his eyes seemed to sav: 4 Young map, you don t know what a flather can suffer when mourning enters his house revet- to leave it-. Ihov have taken my only eon. and°ne of daughters is a widow. To the h-mse Slit I left in the joy of» morning I shall go back to find 1 ttle cSdyen who have never even known ikoii* father.* . ..

war is that of NapoJebn. “Victory always goes to those greatest power of will and intelligence. Victory is will.” “It is not suffioien in he has written, to have ideas!arid make plans." . , , u Puaax quotes a stirring tale though not quite accurately, by another French* writoj ,0* th ® interview between Ihel®Marshal # Joto Fren-h and Fodi at the crisis of, the Battle of Ypres (31st October, that we know is that the FieldMarshal said to his e-j'gjjt Erielish accent and his Bptwh hatot pronouncing the French f * e fAlors il ne reste qua nous taire toner{“Well, there’s nothing to-be Son?’ but to get killfd?’) and that ilpoh’s reply was,/Wo njqst stand firm We can die aft«w?.rds. fo Aid the Biitish Wirt Ow ea the offensive with a magnificent counter-aiack. In a low hours the situation was saved.