f every member of the conference. In October, 1918,
however, in responding to a note of greeting from Lloyd-George on the
occasion of his sixty-seventh birthday, Foch recognized the weight of
the British Prime Minister's influence at the conference:

"I am greatly touched," he replied, "by your congratulations and thank
you sincerely.

"I do not forget that it was to your insistence that I owe the position
which I occupy to-day."

Foch's new responsibilities were laid upon him on March 26. By evening
of the 28th he had the situation so well in hand that he was able to
hold in check the German onslaught without even employing all the
troops he had brought up for that purpose. He had averted what
threatened to be the worst disaster of the war, and he had reserves in
readiness against a new and augmented attack. This in two days!

On the 30th an official announcement told all the world that the
destinies of the allied armies were by common consent confided to the
general direction of Ferdinand Foch.

On that same day there was made public, by the French war authorities,
something which had taken place and had contributed in a degree we are
not yet able to state, to the investment of Foch with supreme power.
This was a visit made by General Pershing to Foch. In the presence of
Foch, Petain, Clemenceau and Loucheur (Minister of Munitions) Pershing
made the following declaration:

"I come to tell you that the American people would hold it a great
honor if our troops were engaged in the present battle. I ask you this
in my name and in theirs. At this moment there is nothing to be
thought of but combat. Infantry, artillery, aviation--all that we have
is yours. Use them as you will. There are more to come--as many more
as shall be needed. I am here solely to say to you that the American
people will be proud to be engaged in the greatest and most glorious
battle in history."

[Illustration: General Foch--General Pershing]

On April 5, a week after his appointment to the supreme command was
announced, Foch granted an interview to a group of war correspondents.
Their various accounts differ very slightly. Instead of quoting any
one I will make a digest of them.

They found the general installed in a provincial mansion, place not
named. The room he occupied was nearly bare; an old table, an
armchair, a telephone, a huge war map, no profusion of papers, no "air
of importance."

Foch was writing in a notebook