First World War.com - Primary Documents - Ferdinand Foch's Telegram to Allied Commanders-in-Chief, 9 November 1918

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Ferdinand Foch Primary Documents: Ferdinand Foch's Telegram to Allied Commanders-in-Chief, 9 November 1918
Updated - Saturday, 22 May, 2004

Reproduced below is the text of a brief telegram issued by the Allied Supreme Commander, Ferdinand Foch, to the Commanders-in-Chief of the Allied Armies.

In his telegram Foch - who was by now negotiating with German Army Chief of Staff Paul von Hindenburg for an armistice - urged renewed efforts at driving through a complete military victory.

Ferdinand Foch's Telegram to Allied Commanders-in-Chief, 9 November 1918

The enemy, disorganized by our repeated attacks, retreats along the entire front.

It is important to coordinate and expedite our movements.

I appeal to the energy and the initiative of the Commanders-in-Chief and of their armies to make decisive the results obtained.

Source: Source Records of the Great War, Vol. VI, ed. Charles F. Horne, National Alumni 1923

A Covering Party was a detachment of soldiers protecting a working-party in the front line.