THE YPRES TIMES
6 7
Foch has been the first to discountenance the exaltation of himself at the expense
of Sir John French's reputation. The discussion centred in the question of whether
the British line should be withdrawn. The fact that all available reinforcements
had been pushed into the battle brought the problem of retirement into Sir John's
calculations, though from his own account of the general situation it is clear that
he had come to no decision in the matter. Nor .does it seem at all likely that he
was in such a state of despair as to tell Foch that nothing remained for him but to
THE MEMORIAL TO MARSHAL FOCH AT CASSEL.
die with the 1st Corps, or that it required a supreme effort of persuasion on Foch's
part to restore his morale. A very thorough and exhaustive discussion took.place,
in which Foch displayed all his supreme skill for appreciating a military situation.
He certainly urged upon Sir John the far-reaching and, perhaps, fatal results which
might follow retirement. In any case, Sir John left the conference with his mind
fully set against withdrawal, and his own words throw further light on this decision
Foch told me that on the morning of the next day (November 1st) a French mixed
force, up to the strength of a Division, would concentrate on the line St. Eloi-
Wytschaete at daybreak and advance from that line to attack the left flank of the
