RATHER DIE THAN RETREAT

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 218, 20 October 1916, Page 2

RATHER DIE THAN RETREAT

A dramatic story is related of Focli’s meeting with General French at two o’clock on the morning of November .1, when the tide of battle was running strongly against the British, whose thin line only seemed to hold as if by a miracle. General French had to ask himself whether for prudence’s sake he had betten not retire his men to the second line. On these deliberations Foch broke with the remark, "The Germans have sixteen corps in front of ns, we have only ten with yours. If you withdraw I shall remain with 8. Remain. The British army never drew back in its history. As for myself, I give you my word as a soldier I will die rather than retreat; give me yours." French listened in silence, and with just the suspicion of emotion in his eyes, grasped Foch firmly by the hand. The great Frenchman understood. The British line held its ground though cooks and every nondescript unit had to be thrown into the battle, and in the end the Germans suffered the most sanguinary defeat in their history.