GENERAL FOCH

Otago Witness, Issue 3349, 22 May 1918, Page 59

GENERAL FOCH

THE NEW GENERALISSIMO. Tho familiar portraits of General dFoch, the new Generajissinio' on the West front, show him as a man of middle age, but iti September, 1916, the noted French, leader was specially exempted from the law which requires " generals of division" to retire from active servico at tho age of 65. Thisj was done in recognition of two specially notable services prior to the Battle of tho Somme. The first of these was in the battle of the Ma me, where General Foch, at la Froro Champenoise, carried out a brilliant and daring strategic movement which helped to win the victory. He knewi tho enemy to. bo stronger than he on both, his flanks, although in the centre he could hold with equal numbers. Thereupon ho took the bold risk and withdrew his left, flank, leaving only a screen which ho hoped would deceive the enemy, and broughi; round his additional force to his right flank. His daring was rewarded. Tho enemy was ''deceived, and General Foch's centre and right were strong enough to drive in the German left flank before tho enemy had had time to find out what he was up to. The second feat was that now historic race to the sea which saved Calais, snd in which General Foch. with fewer forces—for instance, at ono time six army corps to thirteen—always managed to get ahead of the enemy. Step by step, by skilful manoeuvring, holding gaps temporarily- with territorials whilo active corps were being rushed up behind them, he finally reached Calais first. „ Before the war General Foch was best known as a French theoretician of tactics and as head of tho Staff College; his war service has confirmed the judgment of. his friends that he is a great strategist. His servico at the- Battle of the Somme, m which ho commanded the French army§ south of the Somme, was his last as an active general in command of troops. The whole operation by the French was notable for its cleanness of execution, rapidity, and economy of men. ~ Ho had the reputation among those Who know his method}, of being scrupulously careful in obtaining information, "and his exactitude in this manner, coupled with swiftness in judgment and decision, is the secret of his success as a strategist and tactician. Foch has in the past been sneered at as a ' ; professor," a deep student of- Cassar and Napoleon, a writer of books on war and especially on strategy, with a remarkably intimate interest in the knowledge of artillery. He has outlived the sneers. Though ho fought in the Franco-Prussian war, in 1370, he has defeated time also to the extent that ho is remarkably active. Ho Ib credited with understanding the human element in tho French army better than any other living man. As a lecturer in the War College for a long period he passed through his hands a very large number of; tho officers in tho army, and not only got to know them well, but imparted to them? a lasting understanding of his own strong character. Like Joffre, Pau, and Gallieiu, Foch comes from the south of France, near -tho Pyrenees. He was born at tho Bay of Biscay in 1851, and is the same age as do Castelnau and Dubail, and a year older than Joffre. \