they exacted of France along with the ceding of Alsace-Lorraine. (For
three years France had to endure the insolent victors upon her soil.)

And with the fine feeling and magnanimity in which the German was then
as now peculiarly gifted General Manteuffel delighted in ordering his
military bands to play the "Retreat"--to taunt the sad inhabitants with
this reminder of their army's shame.

Ferdinand Foch listened and thought and wrote his examinations for the
school of war.

Forty-two years later--in August, 1913--a new commandant came to Nancy
to take control of the Twentieth Army Corps, whose position there,
guarding France's Eastern frontier, was considered one of the most
important--if not _the_ most important--to the safety of the nation.

The first order he gave was one that brought out the full band strength
of six regiments quartered in the town. They were to play the "March
Lorraine" and the "Sambre and Meuse." They were to fill Nancy with
these stirring sounds. The clarion notes carrying these martial airs
were to reach every cranny of the old town. It was a veritable tidal
wave of triumphant sound that he wanted--for it had much to efface.

Nancy will never forget that night! It was Saturday, the 23d of
August, 1913. And the new commandant's name was Ferdinand Foch!

Less than a year later he was fighting to save Nancy, and what lay
beyond, from the Germans.

And _this_ time there was to be a different story! Ferdinand Foch was