BRITAIN'S TRIBUTE TO FOCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1919, Page 10

BRITAIN'S TRIBUTE TO FOCH.

UNPRECEDENTED HONOUR CONFERRED''".;?' It is an unprecedented distinction for the baton of a British field marshal to be conferred on a French general. Mar. siial Foeh has just been so, honoured The rank of field marshal' Was created in England by George II in 1736. From that period up to the Napoleonic wars (17981815) the French and the .'jjritish were too great antagonists to thiiik of conferring honorary distinctions upon each other.

The British and French, during the Second Empire, fought together as allies, in the Crimea against Russia in 1854, the British commanded by Lord Raglan and the French by Marshal St. Arnaud After the Bear was defeated the British did not confer upon Arnaud the distinction of an honorary field marshal, nor did Napoleon HI make Lord Raglan a French field marshal. Hence it will be seen that the distinction now conferred upon Foch by King George is unprecedented.

General Weygand waa Foch's chief of staff during a considerable part of the \var. At the outset of the struggle when Foch waa in command of the 20th Army Corps at Nancy, General Weygand was then cJoßely associated with him, and when Joffre urgently Summoned Foch ti the Marne, in September, 1914, General Weygand collaborated with Foch in the, strategic plan which' resulted in the de-j feat of the Prussian pivot of the German attack—at La Fere Chanvi penoise. After unity of command had been reposed ; i'n Foch on' March 27, leiji' Gen-: oral Weyga,ni was selected, as his chief of staff. " •;;;":>.; f • ■•'•'•'■'■ ; When ,Foch, ! ijya.s. a'sJlit,ary professor at the Pans Ssff. .ft 1898, Genj eral Weygand 'was" also on the staff,' Foch then -formed,a'.great''opinion olKjrji ability and strategic aiuHpr; many years thf three names which 'atbtfcT; but "in France as' military and strategic, professors were.Foch, : BonnaVand, Wpy-i garid'. ..■•-.' < - i