THE D'ARTAGAN OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2928, 14 November 1916, Page 4

THE D'ARTAGAN OF THE WAR

AMERICAN PICTURE OF GENERAL, ' _FOCII_ The "Now York Tribune" publishes' a jien picture of General Focb, written by Frcdß. Pitney, its Paris correspondent. Mr. Pitney begins by quoting a prominent "personality" in Paris for the following appreciation of the great leader of the French armies on the Somme:—"General Foch is the great general the 'war has produced in France. He has intuition and the power of divination. He is great in his instant grasp of a situation, his perception of the needs, his vision of tho next hour. General Joffre is his warmest admirer."

Describing the General's personalappearanco, Mr. Pitney says:—"He is not tall, five feet six inches in height, but •you' do not seo that till afterward. What you seo first is his eyo. He has . a largo well-shaped head, rather thin iron grey hair, and a broad high forehead. rfis grey eyes, set ..wide apart, bore through you and burn you up and smilo on you, nil at tho same timo. His noso is large, his mouth wide and straight, and his fiercely benevolent iron grey moustache first comes down over the corners of his mouth and then points straight up at his eyes. His chin is massive from any point of view."

In a short survey of the war situation, General Foch said:—"The battles in ' Artois and the Champagne have shown that we can cut the German lines, go through them and drive them back as wo please whon tho time comes that our plans have fixed." There was a matter-of-fact definitenoss about this statement that put it outside tho realm of discussion, and when I recall this mooting with General Foch tho picture my mind most dwells upon is of him at that moment. He : stood facing us in his most characteristic attitude, with his right foot a little in advance, ,hisleft hand in his pocket and his right hand dragging upward tho poiirfc of his 'grey moustache, and there was in his expression a mixture of pleased recollection, happy anticipation, and grim determination. ■-■■■'.-

"One must think of D'Artagnan when one thinks of General Foch: but one thinks also of Grant inthe Wilderness. '..-There is something in him that is steadfast and something-more than is relentless." Mr.'Pitney",concludes his sketch by quoting the Order of tho Day in which the Grand Cross of tho Legion of Honour was conferred upon General Foch,.and' which' said:—,. "Ho has shown under all circumstances, both in defensive and offensive operations, a "strategic ability without parallel. ■ - Thanks to his ■ indisputable, authority and the adroitness of his counsels, he has contributed in a great part to, the co-ordination'of the efforts of the Allied armies, and thus has gendered most eminent service to the nation." ...

In reporting on the Woollen Companys dim to the Petone Borough Council the engineer stated that the reservoir had been gradually filling up at the top for some years, thus reducing the storage capacity. The reason for this, it .was stated, was the loose naturOjOf tho hills on each side, the greatly increased number of sheep kept .on'the adjoining land, and the debris brought down in flood time. The holding capacity is restricted, :but the reduction was said not to he very material. The council is bound to keep the dam and reservoir in good order and condition, and to allow one million gallons per day to flow into tho reservoir". To. clean the reservoir to its original condition the engineer estimates that it would take a fortnight working double shifts, and the reservoir would-have to be entirely empty for that time. "The job is a big one," stated the engineer, "and until it is well started it is impossible to estimate the cost." . . ■ y . The Island Bay Surf and Life-Saving Club had a very .successful opening on Saturday afternoon last. Tho president, Mr. W. H. Coy, in opening the season, mentioned that there wero many members at the front. Ho suggested improvements to the beach, and said that any improvements would bo gilt-edged securities. He said that Island Bay was one of the safest swimming resorts in and about Wellington. Ho /advised all parents to educate their children in the art of swimming. Mr. It. A. Wright, M.P., was also present, and spoko in words of encouragement, and boro out the president's 'He spoke, also, of tho progrossiveness of the Bay.r The Mayor (Mr. J. P: Luke) and Mr. D. M'Laren were also present. Tho members competed in a 50yds. back-stroke race, which resulted:—R. Henderson, 1; W. H. Wahelin, 2, Tho judge, was Mr. H. C. Coy, and tho starter Mr._ H. E. H. Bird. There was a life-saving demonstration and a Red Cross collection was taken up.