But as the coffee was being brought on, the Premier turned
suddenly to the General and said, brusquely:
"By the way, I've a good bit of news for you. You're nominated Director
of the Ecole de Guerre."
"Director of the Ecole de Guerre! But I'm not a candidate for the post."
"That is possible. But you're appointed all the same, and I know you
will do excellent work in the position."
Foch thanked the Premier, but he still had some doubts, and added:
"I fear you don't know all my family connections. I have a brother who
is a Jesuit."
"Jesuit be d-----!" the Premier is reported to have roared in reply.
"Oh, I beg your pardon, Mr. Director! You are the Director of the Ecole
de Guerre. All the Jesuits in creation won't alter that--it is a fait
accompli."
Among the confidential bits of work worthy of note that Foch has done
for the War Department is the report he made upon the larger guns of the
French field artillery, which have done such execution in the present
war. For many weeks Foch went around the great Creusot gun works in the
blouse of a workman, testing, watching, experimenting, analyzing.
Foch was one of the high officers in France who was not in the least
surprised by the war and who had personally been holding himself in
readiness for it for years.
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