THE YPRES TIMES
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July 18th, between Chateau-Thierry and Soissons, the initiative passed finally to
the Allies. On July 24th, Foch summoned his only conference of the Allied
Commanders, and outlined to them his plans for immediate local operations, to be
followed later by a general offensive.
The success which followed was immediate and decisive. And from the
moment that Haig launched his surprise attack in front of Amiens, the Allies
steadily carried all before them. The effect of the brilliantly planned British attack
on the general course of the fighting cannot be overrated, and a little later Foch
sent a special message to Haig congratulating him in most enthusiastic terms on
his victorious advance. Soon after the Armistice he again expressed his admira
tion of British fighting power with these words: "The battles of your British
Army will live through all time as classics of how great military operations should
be conducted. Nothing has ever been seen like them in the history of all wars."
And so, far sooner than he had hoped, Foch was in a position to employ the
whole strength of his victorious armies in a great converging movement. In that
historic series of offensives which he planned and directed there was system, there
was largeness of conception and minutest care of detail, all of which he held in
check until the destined moment came. By making it impossible for Ludendorff
to concentrate in vital sectors he forced him to distribute his reserves. From
Furnes to Verdun he hammered at the German lines without pity or respite, in a
continuous succession of isolated and alternate blows.
Assailed at every point, breathless and unable to recover, with a line which
swayed and cracked from end to end, Germany at last was beaten to her knees.
And at that proud moment the minds of many who had studied under Foch in days
long past must have recalled, from among the many lessons which he taught them,
two principles which he had now made clear before their eyes: "A battle won is a
battle in which one refuses to own oneself beaten." Victory always goes to
those who merit it, by the greatest strength of will and intelligence."
So with dramatic suddenness the Armistice came, and Foch returned to Paris
to devote his services to the settlement of peace. Monsieur Poincaré has told us
that his one desire, in peace as in war, was to serve at whatever post might be
assigned to him, and to assist in ensuring the security which he had demanded
as the price of victory." In the days of his comparative retirement he passed
from place to place, and appeared on occasions great and small, not with the air
of a mighty conqueror, but with the grace and ease of a truly noble gentleman, and,
as Mr. Winston Churchill has described him, "illustrious and lovable."
Ferdinand Foch was a great man, and he will be remembered in all the years
to come because he made greatness infinitely human and attractive. A rare
distinction was the mark, as of his face, so of his life and character. In him the
stern and gentle qualities were blended to perfection.
And his triumphant handling of the Allied situation in the last few months of
war will remain an epic of all time, not only because it was effected by superb
initiative and strategy, but because of the personal influence which infected whole
armies as if by a miracle, with a fresh confidence and a fresh will to victory.
He loved his own French soldiers with a sublime devotion. When you are
the leader of men like these," he said on one occasion, how high you must rise
to command them and be worthy of them!"
And no less generously is he stated to have expressed his admiration to Lord
Haig, for the British soldier and the part he played My dear Marshal, your
wonderful army has saved France, saved all of us; without you we were beaten."
So he passes into history, a great soldier, a great gentleman, a great
Christian, a great soul; and let us add, in the words of Monsieur Poincaré, one
who in serving France has served humanity, and who will live with a life
eternally renewed in the spirit of posterity." A. Macnamara.
