We're Surrounded? Let's Attack!
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
“My center is giving way, my right is pushed back, situation excellent, I am attacking.” – Ferdinand Foch at the Second Battle of the Marne, 1918
Born on October 2, 1851, Ferdinand Foch rose through the ranks of the French Army to become a commander at the outbreak of World War I. He distinguished himself in the First Marne, Flanders, and Artois campaigns, 1914-1916. After a brief reassignment to Italy, Foch was named Supreme Allied Commander in late March 1918 in the face of the all-out German spring offensive. He successfully coordinated the French, British and American efforts, deftly handling his strategic reserves, and stopped the German offensive while launching a counterattack of his own that is credited with winning the war.
On November 11, 1918, Foch accepted the German surrender and advocated for peace terms that would make Germany unable to pose a threat to France ever again. As such, he considered the Treaty of Versailles to be too lenient on Germany, famously stating, "This is not Peace. It is an Armistice for twenty years.”
Prophetically, World War II broke out 20 years later.
In 1923, Marshall Foch retired from the French Army, having served a total of 53 years in uniform. When he died on March 20, 1929, he was buried in Les Invalides next to Napoleon.
I love Marshall Foch’s quote above for one simple reason: facing insurmountable odds, he saw the situation as an opportunity to surprise the enemy and pull off a stunning and unexpected victory… which is exactly what happened. Like Foch, I am an eternal optimist and try to see the glass not only as half-full, but also as soon-to-be overflowing.
As a Christian, I don’t see how we can look at our circumstances any other way.
“What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 (BSB)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
