Chapter 515
It was clear Nivelle intended to launch an offensive—or rather, the British had decided upon one.
Gallieni glanced at Pétain, who sat quietly, expression unreadable. He appeared still undecided, offering neither support nor opposition. Unable to rely on Pétain's assistance, Gallieni stood firmly, addressing Nivelle directly:
"I don't believe the time is right for a counterattack, Commander-in-Chief."
Nivelle calmly shifted his gaze from the map to Gallieni, offering a practiced, diplomatic smile. "Please, Minister, share your thoughts."
Gallieni rose slowly, turning slightly so all present could hear clearly. "Certainly, the Germans have devoted significant resources to Verdun, but describing their effort as exhausting their entire strength seems exaggerated."
"We must objectively assess German defenses across the entire front. They remain dominant in Russia, and they've established formidable defensive lines in Belgium. Recent probing attacks indicate their defenses are robust—certainly not the 'weakened positions' you suggest."
He turned toward General Castelnau, commander of the Eastern Army Group. "General Castelnau can provide details on recent engagements."
Castelnau promptly rose to his feet, confirming solemnly, "Following Minister Gallieni's orders, we've conducted multiple reconnaissance-in-force operations. German defenses remain impressively strong. Intelligence suggests they've deployed a new type of heavy machine gun—lighter, more mobile, and highly effective in defensive combat—"
Before Castelnau finished, Haig abruptly interrupted, speaking in heavily accented French with barely concealed disdain:
"Think of Charles!"
Gallieni frowned sharply, bewildered by Haig's comment. "What does General Charles have to do with your attack strategy?"
Haig raised his eyebrows slightly, leaning back nonchalantly. "I refer to his assault on Antwerp. How did Charles manage to reach Antwerp within a single day? Were his tanks and troops really invincible?"
Gallieni replied angrily, "Then how would you explain his success? Are you suggesting the Germans were simply weak?"
"Precisely," Haig answered calmly. "Or more accurately, the Germans had only a single defensive line. Once penetrated, the interior was largely empty—many positions completely undefended."
Haig looked directly at Gallieni with faintly provocative eyes. "Have I stated anything incorrect, Minister?"
Gallieni nodded grimly. "Your observation is accurate. But only Charles's armored and mechanized units possessed the speed to exploit that weakness swiftly. Infantry alone lack such speed. By the time infantry breaches enemy lines, German reinforcements arrive to plug the gap."
He paused, emphasizing, "General Foch's Ninth Army, stalled at Mons during the Antwerp offensive, clearly illustrates this limitation."
Several French generals nodded in agreement. Military experts had analyzed Charles's Antwerp operation thoroughly, universally concluding that rapid success hinged entirely upon armored speed, overwhelming strength, and tactical flexibility.
Speed allowed Charles's forces to slip through before reinforcements could arrive; overwhelming strength ensured scattered enemy units posed no serious obstacle; flexibility meant bypassing stubborn defensive positions, maintaining momentum.
Traditional infantry units clearly lacked these crucial capabilities.
Yet Haig smiled dismissively, standing leisurely and addressing the room confidently. "Gentlemen, perhaps you've forgotten—infantry forces also possess their own rapid maneuver units. Historically, these units have repeatedly secured our battlefield victories."
Gallieni looked puzzled, then comprehension dawned: "You mean cavalry?"
Haig nodded slightly, his expression openly contemptuous. "Precisely. Charles's tactics aren't revolutionary—merely the traditional cavalry maneuver. Breach enemy lines, then swiftly exploit the gap with cavalry. The sole difference: Charles substitutes tanks and vehicles."
Other British generals loudly agreed, some shouting enthusiastically:
"Tanks and vehicles have inherent flaws—over-reliance on petrol. Without fuel, they're useless metal heaps!"
"Petrol supplies are highly vulnerable. Charles's Antwerp advance nearly failed due to petrol shortages alone."
"Cavalry require no petrol—they can penetrate gaps, fight from horseback, and operate independently of roads."
Haig smiled smugly, entirely satisfied. He'd always believed tanks and machine guns unnecessary extravagances. Cavalry fulfilled every tank function, while infantry rifles adequately performed machine gun roles.
Gallieni stared in disbelief. How could experienced commanders still champion cavalry over tanks and motorized transport? Yet, facing united British generals, Gallieni stood virtually alone.
Among French officers, some remained thoughtful, others nodded passively. A few clearly disagreed yet chose silence, wary of openly challenging British consensus.
Finally, Nivelle intervened decisively, outlining the overall plan:
"Our strategy remains straightforward—though with significant artillery support. Just as Germany heavily shelled Verdun, we'll concentrate artillery fire against a carefully chosen enemy line segment. Infantry will breach this weakened line, followed immediately by cavalry exploiting the gap."
Unlike British commanders, Nivelle placed absolute faith in artillery. His strategy boiled down to: artillery conquers, infantry occupies. He saw artillery as the decisive force; infantry merely secured territory once artillery had cleared resistance.
Gallieni interrupted sharply, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Commander-in-Chief, is this plan truly your own—or is it dictated by the British?"
Nivelle's face darkened instantly. "What exactly are you implying, Minister?"
Gallieni responded bluntly, "Merely seeking clarification. If you wish to implement reckless tactics, perhaps I can't stop you. But as Minister of War, I'll exhaust every effort preventing French troops from participating in this folly—"
"No, Minister," Nivelle interjected icily, "You cannot prevent our participation."
At that moment, Haig interjected disdainfully, "Our supplies are reserved exclusively for brave soldiers actively fighting—not cowards cowering timidly in trenches!"
Gallieni immediately understood the threat: Ultimately, Britain would leverage their monopoly over critical supplies, forcing France's parliament into reluctant compliance.
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