THE SUPREME COMMAND

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12606, 17 November 1926, Page 9

THE SUPREME COMMAND

FOCH SHATTERS A BELIEF ORDERS OBEYED UNWILLINGLY AND BADLY CARRIED OUT Bv Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. BRUSSELS, November 15. King Albert has sent a letter to -Marshal Foch denying the latter’s' statement that, it was King Albert’s intention to- order the Belgians to retire in November, 1914, if Marshal ’Foch had not intervened. He adds that the Belgian Army Order declared that whoever uttered the word “retreat” \vould be regarded as a traitor to the country. The Army, before Marsha] Foch’s visit, was ordered to maintain the Yser line at all costs. The staff, when the Belgians were hard pressed on October 28tli, contemplated a retirement, which King Albert vetoed. , White .admitting that,-the, necessary. French'assistance was'due” to Marshal Foch’s representations, ' King Albert concluded that the happy issue of the, Sghtin'g on the Yser line was due to the bravery and tenacity of the Belgians. . HOW THE OFFENSIVE BEGAN LONDON, November. 15. King Albert's denial refers to a recent interview in the Paris “Matin,” in which Marshal Fqch stated that he never, commanded, its*' was popularly supposed. What he really did was to convert the various commanders to his views. He called Earl Haig, Marshal Petain, and General Pershing to his headquarters in July, 1918, and explained the plans for an offensive.' All., the three . commanders held the opinion that the .Allied armies were not in a condition to advance, but d»y offers of assistance from the French armies, by stimulating their pride, and by logic he persuaded everybody to follow his plans. HE GAVE ONE ORDER Marshal Foch added that he could have given categorical orders, but the orders were received unwillingly, and were always badly carried out. On one occasion he gave categorical orders when he did not possess the power to give them. Lord French and King Albert had insisted on retreating behind the Yser in 1914, but he left instructions beginning: “The lines at present held will be defended,” and, though he was merely a general, the British Field-Marshal and the Belgian King issued their orders accordingly. ,