68
THE YPRES TIMES
forces in front of Haig. Similarly the 9th French Corps on Haig's left would be
ordered to attack south-east against the enemy's right." Sir John goes on to state
that he sent a full account of his conference with Foch to Haig, and that ultimately
the line of the 1st Corps was completely re-established.
After this intense period of fighting there was a comparative lull for a few
hours. But Foch continued to exert an untiring vigilance over every part of the
battle front. The unshakable will and faith of the General, which were
communicated to everyone, stirred men's courage and redoubled their energies,
whilst his clear and sure grasp of events, and his gift of discernment, warded off
danger at the very moment when everything seemed lost. Everyone felt, as it
were, that his reserves issued from the earth at the very moment and place where
their intervention was indispensable."
On November 2nd Foch was visited at Cassel by President Poincaré, who
lunched with him and his staff at headquarters. The President has given an
interesting account of this visit in his book L'lnvasion." He remarks that it
would be impossible to dream of a more beautiful observatory as from the hill of
Cassel one looks out across the plain which, from century to century, has been the
scene of many battles. He found Foch fully acquainted with the soldiers of history
who had preceded him at Cassel. He is ignorant of nothing connected with
military history, and his conversation is enriched with reminiscences and comparisons
which reveal astonishing erudition." During luncheon a staff officer brought to
Foch the report of the morning's operations, which revealed the fact that the
enemy had renewed his attacks with fresh fury, but that he was being held all along
the line. After lunch the General took the President into his office, and, with the
aid of maps which were spread out on the tables and hanging around the walls,
explained to him the progress of the battle with a superb mastery of detail.
That evening Foch wrote: I have had a heavy day. The battle has been in
full swing. The Emperor William has been opposite our positions, at Courtrai,
twenty kilometres from Ypres. He wished to enter Ypres on November 1st, and
for this purpose his troops have been delivering furious attacks. But everywhere
they have been disappointed. We have stopped them all."
The period of fierce fighting during the first two weeks of November marked
the last phase of the First Battle of Ypres. The struggle spread all round the
Salient, and Foch displayed amazing skill in employing every means of transport
for moving reserves to threatened sectors. All through he remained as adamant as
ever against any suggestion of retreat. It has been said that Sir Henry Wilson was
sent to him on several successive nights to try to persuade him of the necessity
of a retirement. At last Foch clinched the matter by saying to his beloved
Henri Double Vay, if you come to talk to me about Ypres it is useless, for
such a place is not on my map."
It was on November nth, the day of the last serious German attack on the
1st Corps, that the First Battle of Ypres was finally decided. And it was won by
the broken, but glorious remnants of the British Expeditionary Force under the
steadfast leadership of Haig. Foch always regarded it as a great victory for
the Allies, since the German plans had been completely frustrated. But he was the
first to admit that it was a modified victory. For full victory means the destruction
of the enemy after a fierce and relentless pursuit. The immense superiority of the
Germans in men and material had early convinced him that his original plans to this
end were impracticable. Nevertheless, he held to his main idea that the best way of
breaking the force of the enemy attacks was for the Allies to remain ever vigilant
for opportunities of attack, and to keep alive the spirit of the offensive.
As the fighting quietened down, two notable events took place, both of which
affected Foch. On November 14th the veteran Field-Marshal Earl Roberts, who
