Dunkirk, British Expeditionary Force Headquarters.
As the Minister of the Army, Kitchener had an office here; after all, this was where the British Army was fighting, and there was going to be a significant battle soon.
Kitchener was in the habit of writing in his diary after dinner.
He found it meaningful. When he retired, he could look back and easily write a memoir, summarizing this life.
After writing a few lines hastily, Kitchener suddenly lost interest.
He closed the notebook, put away the pen, and walked to the window with his coffee, gazing into the northern darkness.
What mattered wasn’t writing the diary but what could be written in that small notebook, such as becoming the Prime Minister of Britain in his lifetime.
(The above image shows a WWI-era pen, invented by an American insurance agent in 1884.)
At this moment, there was a gentle knock on the door.
Kitchener collected his thoughts and turned his head, responding, "Come in."
Haig pushed the door open and walked in. The arrogance he had in Chantilly earlier was now replaced with the humility of a student in front of Kitchener.
"Everything is progressing smoothly, Marshal," Haig reported. "They have agreed to our attack plan. As we expected, the only obstacle was Gallieni, but he could do nothing about it."
Kitchener acknowledged with a grunt but said nothing.
Haig asked curiously, "You seem dissatisfied with the current situation?"
Kitchener replied expressionlessly, "Gallieni is not the biggest obstacle, General. The difficulties still lie ahead of us. Now is not the time to discuss satisfaction."
Haig was taken aback but quickly grasped the reason: "Do you mean, Shire?"
Kitchener nodded lightly: "You’ve heard about the cooperation between ’Saint-Étienne’ and FN company, right?"
"I’ve heard a bit," Haig answered.
He hadn’t paid much attention to it because he always believed that victory in battles depended on people, not equipment.
"I know what you’re thinking," Kitchener said with a tone of helplessness.
His sole dissatisfaction with Haig was his extreme "tradition" and "conservatism," to the point of disbelief in any new equipment. Updates are released by 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝕟𝕖𝕥
In a critical tone, Kitchener said, "Even if you don’t believe in these, you should at least acknowledge Shire’s victories. He invented the tank in Paris, combined aircraft and ’Congreve’ rockets in Antwerp, and used mines in Verdun, among other things. Can all of this be mere luck?"
"I don’t think it’s luck, Marshal," Haig replied. "But the success of this equipment was largely due to luck and the enemy’s lack of preparation. Once they are prepared and have countermeasures, the equipment loses its effectiveness. For example, the Germans constructed anti-tank trenches that tanks cannot cross."
Kitchener didn’t continue to argue with Haig, considering it a waste of time.
There is always an element of luck on the battlefield, in any battle.
But if Shire won again and again, that couldn’t be explained by luck alone.
Kitchener analyzed to himself:
"I received intelligence that Shire has been actively training troops and ramping up the production of new equipment."
"I believe he is preparing for an upcoming battle."
"This is not good news for us."
Haig understood what Kitchener was worried about. If Shire achieved another victory, especially with a small force, even if the British Army also won, Shire’s accomplishments would overshadow theirs.
Haig’s lips curled into a disdainful smile: "With all due respect, Marshal, I think your concerns are unnecessary. We have spent months preparing for this victory and have an initial estimate of mobilizing 80 divisions, totaling over a million men. With such a large-scale offensive, Shire’s force is almost negligible."
Note: The Battle of the Somme involved 54 British divisions, 32 French divisions, and over a million men.
Kitchener rolled his eyes. The point wasn’t how many troops could be mobilized, but how much could be achieved with such a large force.
Can you infiltrate Antwerp and recapture a third of Belgium in one go, capturing tens of thousands of German soldiers like Shire did?
Of course, Kitchener wouldn’t say this. Saying so would slap Haig in the face. He knew Haig was that kind of person, believing in the superiority of sheer numbers and strength to crush any obstacle.
Changing his tone, Kitchener said, "But to be on the safe side, we should pose a challenge for Shire, give him a surprise. What do you think?"
Haig’s eyes lit up. He had no objection!
Shire was dealing with Tijani’s persistence.
"I think it’s more suited for mechanized units, General," Tijani had been talking non-stop since returning to the command post from the training field: "Armored units have tanks that can approach the enemy and open fire in a short time, so they don’t need this kind of rocket artillery with an 8-kilometer range."
Shire countered, "Are you saying that armored units don’t need the 75-cannon or the ’Saint-Chamond’?"
"No, of course not," Tijani’s excuse was immediately exposed, but he remained calm and composed, answering seriously: "I mean, cannons have higher accuracy, which is what tanks need, as they can coordinate better. Rocket artillery, with its inherent accuracy problems, might threaten our tanks with friendly fire accidents."
This argument had some merit.
But Shire countered, "Don’t mechanized units need to coordinate with armored units? So, you don’t need rocket artillery either, right?"
Tijani was left speechless.
Shire looked at Tijani mockingly and added, "Moreover, didn’t someone assure me recently, ’I don’t need rocket artillery’? You haven’t forgotten, have you?"
Tijani pretended to recall with a tilt of his head: "Did I say that? No, you must be mistaken!"
Shire was speechless. This shameless guy was actually a Major General and division commander!
At this time, a guard brought in a British Lieutenant. The British Lieutenant saluted Shire and retrieved a dossier from his satchel, handing it over: "Top secret document, General, please open it only when you’re sure it’s safe."
Shire acknowledged with a hum and casually opened it.
Shire’s command post was absolutely safe; everyone had been rigorously screened and their movements restricted, and no one was allowed out without permission to contact anyone else.
The British Lieutenant saluted again and then left.
Shire looked at the document and exclaimed, furrowing his brows.
Tijani’s curiosity was instantly piqued, and he leaned in for a look. It was an operations plan.
After carefully flipping through it, he looked at Shire in shock: "They actually ordered us to attack the Namur Fortress?"
This was unexpected; he had always thought the Battle of the Somme was about to commence, with dozens of divisions and over a million troops being mobilized for the offensive, himself included.
Now it seemed the British preferred him to be trapped in another quagmire!