Haig revealed little information to the press. At this stage, he did not dare to disclose the mutiny within the French Army. What he desired was a destructive conflict between the Germans and Shire, not a complete collapse of the French Army.
Therefore, the media's skepticism was more about Shire's appointment as the commander of the 6th Army Group:
"As we all know, Shire is better at maneuver warfare. His appointment to lead the 6th Army Group in a standoff with the Germans at the River Somme necessitates direct positional warfare against the Germans, which is undoubtedly a challenge for Shire."
"Prior to this, Shire has never commanded a force of such magnitude, which might leave him bewildered."
"This may not be a good thing for Shire. After all, he is only eighteen years old, and whether he can withstand this enormous pressure remains to be seen!"
...
Compared to the lukewarm press response, the parliament's doubts about Shire surged like a tidal wave:
