Foch the Man

Foch the Man

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Title: Foch the Man A Life of the Supreme Commander of the Allied
Armies
Author: Clara E. Laughlin

Release Date: January 14, 2006 [eBook #17511]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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FOCH THE MAN
A Life of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Armies
by
CLARA E. LAUGHLIN
With Appreciation by Lieut.-Col. Edouard Réquin of the French High
Commission to the United States
With Illustrations
Revised and Enlarged Edition

[Frontispiece: Marshal Foch at the Peace Conference.]

New York -------- Chicago Fleming H. Revell Company London and
Edinburgh Copyright, 1918, 1919, by Fleming H. Revell Company
First Printing - November 11, 1918 Second Printing - November 19,
1918 Third Printing - November 29, 1918 Fourth Printing - December
7, 1918 Fifth Printing - January 9, 1919 Sixth Printing - May 1, 1919

DEDICATION
TO THE MEN WHO HAVE FOUGHT UNDER GENERAL FOCH'S
COMMAND. TO ALL Of THEM, IN ALL GRATITUDE. BUT IN
AN ESPECIAL WAY TO THE MEN OF THE 42D DIVISION, THE
SPLENDOR OF WHOSE CONDUCT ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1914, NO
PEN WILL EVER BE ABLE ADEQUATELY TO
COMMEMORATE.

[Illustration: Hand-written letter from Foch.]
[Illustration: Page 1 of hand-written letter from Lt.-Colonel E. Réquin
to Clara Laughlin.]
[Illustration: Page 2 of hand-written letter from Lt.-Colonel E. Réquin
to Clara Laughlin.]
[Transcriber's note: The letter in the second and third illustrations is
shown translated on the following page.]
Dear MADEMOISELLE LAUGHLIN:
I have read with the keenest interest your sketch of the life of Marshal
Foch. It is not yet history: we are too close to events to write it now, but
it is the story of a great leader of men on which I felicitate you because
of your real understanding of his character.
Christian, Frenchman, soldier, Foch will be held up as an example for
future generations as much for his high moral standard as for his
military genius.
It seems that in writing about him the style rises with the noble
sentiments which inspire him.
Thus in form of presentation as well as in substance you convey
admirably the great lesson which applies to each one of us from the life
of Marshal Foch.
Please accept, Mademoiselle, this expression of my respectful regards.
LT.-COLONEL E. RÉQUIN.

"THEY SHALL NOT PASS!"
Three Spirits stood on the mountain peak And gazed on a world of

red,-- Red with the blood of heroes, The living and the dead; A mighty
force of Evil strove With freemen, mass on mass. Three Spirits stood
on the mountain peak And cried: "They shall not pass!"
The Spirits of Love and Sacrifice, The Spirit of Freedom, too,-- They
called to the men they had dwelt among Of the Old World and the New!
And the men came forth at the trumpet call, Yea, every creed and class;
And they stood with the Spirits who called to them, And cried: "They
shall not pass!"
Far down the road of the Future Day I see the world of Tomorrow; Men
and women at work and play, In the midst of their joy and sorrow. And
every night by the red firelight, When the children gather 'round They
tell the tale of the men of old. These noble ancestors, grim and bold,
Who bravely held their ground. In thrilling accents they often speak Of
the Spirits Three on the mountain peak.
O Freedom, Love and Sacrifice You claimed our men, alas! Yet
everlasting peace is theirs Who cried, "They shall not pass!"
ARTHUR A. PENN.
Reprinted by permission of M. Witmark & Sons, N. Y.
Publishers of the musical setting to this poem.

CONTENTS
I. WHERE HE WAS BORN
Stirring traditions and historic scenes which surrounded him in
childhood.
II. BOYHOOD SURROUNDINGS
The horsemarkets at Tarbes. The school. Foch at twelve a student of
Napoleon.

III. A YOUNG SOLDIER OF A LOST CAUSE
What Foch suffered in the defeat of France by the Prussians.
IV. PARIS AFTER THE GERMANS LEFT
Foch begins his military studies, determined to be ready when France
should again need defense.
V. LEARNING TO BE A ROUGH RIDER
Begins to specialize in cavalry training. The school at Saumur.
VI. FIRST YEARS IN BRITTANY
Seven years at Rennes as artillery captain and always student