Open Warfare - The Way to Victory [1919, British Army]

24 October – 19 November 1917

Battle of Caporetto

THE APPROACHING MENACE 181

to suppress the spirit of revolt among them so that the military leaders may make this throw with fate, fantastic stories are being spread about among neutrals and in their own Press, and by secret word which ts carefully spread broadcast, of new methods of attack which will ensure success. Bogies are faked up and put in circula- tion. The German soldier as well as the German people have been — given special treatment for moral. Both of them have been dis- appointed too often by promises of victory and peace to believe in them again without some new tricks. As long ago as 1914 they were promised the war would be over before the leaves of autumn fell. Galicia, Verdun, the battles of the Isonzo were in turn to give them victory. The U-boat war was to starve England to surrender by August last. So now the decisive blow in the West by new methods of frightfulness is the very latest, and I think the last, spell that will hold the German people and army together until it has been tried. The army has been hardest to inspire. Men who went through the blood-bath of the Somme and the horrors of Flanders are not easily duped as to the ease with which they are expected to smash our defences. The old methods of attack with the preliminary bombardment conjure up terrors which they are not willing to face. So they have been trained to this new form of secret attack, and their officers have tried to convince them that they can roll up our lines. It was not easy. While many of their Officers seem confident that the gamble is worth trying, the men murmur and have no faith in the fairy-tale of an easy break through. Kanonenfleisch, say the men—cannon-fodder.