soldiers and artillery
reinforcements. In consequence, they had had to cede considerable
ground, their line was pierced, and the flank of General Dubois' army,
adjoining theirs, was menaced.

When word of this disaster reached Foch that night he at once set out
from Cassel for French's headquarters at Saint Omer.

It was 1 A.M. when he arrived. Marshal French was asleep. He was
waked to receive his visitor.

"Marshal," said Foch, "your line is cracked?"

"Yes."

"Have you any resources?"

"I have none."

"Then I give you mine; the gap must be stopped at once; if we allow our
lines to be pierced at a single point we are lost, because of the
masses our enemy has to pour through it. I have eight battalions of
the Thirty-second Division that General Joffre has sent me. Take them
and go forward!"

The offer was most gratefully received. At two o'clock the orders were
given; the gap was stopped.

Nevertheless, the British despaired of their ability to hold. Marshal
French had no reserves, and decided to fall back.

A liaison officer hastened to notify General Dubois that the British
were about to retire, and General Dubois betook himself in all speed to
Vlamertinghe, the Belgian headquarters, to notify their commanding
general. Foch happened to be with the Belgian general. And while
these three were conferring, the liaison officer (Jamet) saw the
automobile of Marshal French pass by.

Realizing the importance of the British commander's presence at that
interview, Jamet ventured to stop him and suggest his attendance.

Foch implored French to prevent retreat. French declared there was
nothing else for him to do--his men were exhausted, he had no reserves.
Foch pointed out to him the incalculable consequences of yielding.

"It is necessary to hold in spite of everything!" he cried; "to hold
until death. What you propose would mean a catastrophe. Hold on!
I'll help you."

And as he talked he wrote his suggestions on a piece of paper he found
on the table before him, and passed it to the British commander.

Marshal French read what was written, at once added to it, "execute the
order of General Foch," signed it, and gave it to one of his staff
officers.

And the Channel ports were saved.

But a greater thing even than that was foreshadowed: Foch had begun to
demonstrate what was in him before which not only the men of his
command must bow but the generals of other nations also.

One of the sta