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Show Fill TO C0I1D ALLIES Oil WEST CREAT FRENCH STRATEGIST SELECTED SE-LECTED TO LEAD ALLIED FORCES IN FRANCE. General Pershing Calls Upon New Leader and Declares the Americans Will Consder It an Honor to Fight Under Him. Washington. Official information has reached Washington that General Foch, the French chief of staff, has been appointed to supreme command of all the allied and American forces in France. The appointment of General Foch, the great French strategist, is regarded regard-ed here as a diplomatic triumph for the United States. It was recognized as such by President Wilson in a congratulatory congrat-ulatory message to the generalissimo which had the approval of the cabinet The message follows : "May I not convey to you my sincere sin-cere congratulations on your new authority? au-thority? Such unity of command Is a most hopeful augury of ultimate success. suc-cess. We are following with profound interest the bold and brilliant action of your forces." The selection of General Foch is also regarded as a signal for the beginning of a crushing counter-offensive in which the united strength of the entente en-tente powers and America will be thrown against the German armies. .Operating as a unit of one great army and under the sole direction of the most brilliant military leader developed by the war, the blow is expected to send the Teutonic forces reeling backward back-ward to a possible crushing defeat. The adoption of the plan is a triumph tri-umph for the United States because it was first suggested by President Wilson. Wil-son. It was said officially at the White House that General Pershing's visit to General Foch in Paris, at which the whole resources of the American army had been placed at the disposal of the French commander, was in accord with specific instructions from President Wilson. It is understood assurances had already al-ready been received of the acceptance of the high command by the French official. |