The First World War, 1914-1918

THE OUTLOOK, AUTUMN 1915

Mr. Lloyd George's views of the situation, Sept. 29, 1915 — Mr. Churchill on the Dardanelles and naval matters — Sir William Robertson on the situation in France and the attack at Loos — The Salonika Expedition — Opposition of French and British Staffs — The first Zeppelin raid on London — Mr. Lloyd George's views, Oct. 18 — Criticisms of the Battle of Loos — Dissatisfaction with the Government — Ignorance of the people concerning events — General Joffre and Lord Bertie in London — The New Armies at Salisbury — Sir Archibald Murray on the conduct of the war — Lord Kitchener goes to the Eastern Mediterranean, Nov. 1915 — Sir Arthur Markham's views — Sir Arthur Lee at the Munitions Ministry — Lord Derby and Recruiting — Mr. Churchill joins up — Russia's day, Nov. 18 — The Dardanelles and Salonika — General Townshend in trouble after Ctesiphon —Lord Curzon on his colleagues 45-72

SALONIKA AND THE DARDANELLES

A visit to Wilton — General Joffre and Salonika — General Du Cane at the Ministry of Munitions — A tale from the East — Mr. Wash- burn on the Russian Armies — The Dardanelles and Salonika — Divergent views — Dispute about the Battle of Loos — The evacuation of the Dardanelles — Sir Ian Hamilton's views — Sir John Simon's attack on the Times — The defence of Egypt — Lord Derby on Recruiting — Reasons for General Townshend's advance after Kut — F.M. Sir John French replaced by Sir

THE OUTLOOK, AUTUMN 1915

Mr. Lloyd George's views of the situation, Sept. 29, 1915 — Mr. Churchill on the Dardanelles and naval matters — Sir William Robert- son on the situation in France and the attack at Loos — The Salonika Expedition — Opposition of French and British Staffs — The first Zeppelin raid on London — Mr. Lloyd George's views, Oct. 18 — Criticisms of the Battle of Loos — Dissatisfaction with the Govern- ment— Ignorance of the people concerning events — General Joffre and Lord Bertie in London — The New Armies at Salisbury — Sir Archibald Murray on the conduct of the war — Lord Kitchener goes to the Eastern Mediterranean, Nov. 1916 — Sir Arthur Markham's views — Sir Arthur Lee at the Munitions Ministry — Lord Derby and Recruiting — Mr. Churchill joins up — Russia's day, Nov. 18 — The Dardanelles and Salonika — General Townshend in trouble after Ctesiphon — Lord Curzon on his colleagues.

SALONIKA AND THE DARDANELLES

A visit to Wilton — General Joffre and Salonika — General Du Cane at the Ministry of Munitions — A tale from the East — Mr. Washburn or. the Russian Armies — The Dardanelles and Salonika — Divergent views — Dispute about the Battle of Loos — The evacuation of the Dardanelles — Sir Ian Hamilton's views — Sir John Simon's attack on the Times — The defence of Egypt — Lord Derby on Recruiting — Reasons for General Townshend's advance after Kut — F.M. Sir John French replaced by Sir Douglas Haig — Mr. Asquith's reasons — The Dutch mails — Transport losses in the Mediterranean — A visit to Hackwood — Lord Curzon of Kedleston on Salonika decisions — A con- versation with the Queen of the Belgians — Withdrawal of troops from France for Salonika — A speech to the Northern Association of Unionist Agents — Success of the evacuation of Gallipoli and Anzac — German strength in E. Africa — Lord Kitchener opposes General Staff plans — Rasputin — Russian munitions — Trade or Victory ? — More reasons for Sir John French's recall — Allied and German Armies in France — Home Defence Forces — A New Year's party.

THE SOMME BATTLE, JULY 1916

Lieut. Pernot on the situation — Discussion on Rumanian affairs at the Rumanian Legation — M. Millerand — Chantilly again — General de Castelnau's opinions — Our objects in the Somme battle — Journey to Amiens — Brig. -General Charteris's views — General Sh* Henry Rawlinson — A visit to the battlefield — A conversation with General Foch — His use of artillery — Visit to the captured German position round Dompierre — Visit to Beauquesne, Sir Douglas Haig's Headquarters — Visits to Generals Hunter-Weston, Snow, and Hubert Gough — General Allenby at St. Pol — Sir Charles Monro at Choques — Sir Herbert Plumer at Cassel — Views of various officers . . . 252-273

MR. LLOYD GEORGE AS WAR SECRETARY

Mr. Lloyd George War Secretary — Sir William Robertson's opinions on the military situation — A Warren House party — Some Irish stories — A luncheon with Mr. Lloyd George — His opinions and plans — No victory till 1918 — The disabled soldiers and the Statutory Commission — Sir Nevil Macready and the reinforce- ment of our Armies — Vast numbers of exempted men of military age — A visit to Fulwell Park — Lord French's dissatisfaction with the authorities — Scene at Headquarters in London during a Zeppelin raid — Sir W. Robertson on the Somme battle, the Channel Tunnel, and Portuguese assistance — The Indian Police and Lord Curzon of Kedleston's reforms — Lord Wimborne on

RUMANIA TAKES THE FIELD, AUGUST 1916

A visit to Sandbeck Park — Imminence of Rumania's action — General Maurice on the military position — A story about the Channel Tunnel — An American opinion of President Wilson — The German Fleet out — Mr. Balfour imitates Drake — Our Admirals and the Channel Tunnel — Allied and enemy divisions on various fronts — A visit to Watlington Park — The Dutch Minister's views — Lieut. Pernot on the situation — Rumania enters the war — Sir Charles Monro, C.-in-C. in India — His plans — Hindenburg succeeds Falkenhayn — Colonel Olivant on Meso- potamia— General Maurice on Salonika and the Rumanian plans — Mr. Lloyd George displeased with our strategy in France — General Robertson's views — Chances that Hindenburg will attack Rumania — Formality of Royal circles — Sir W. Robert- son on the Somme battle, Rumanian strategy, and Salonika — Indian Army affairs — Recruiting difficulties . . . 305-331

THE FIRST YEAR

This explosion was followed by the reconstruction of the Government and the establishment of a Ministry of Munitions under Lloyd George, who handed over the Chancellorship to McKenna. The general provision of an adequate supply of munitions of all descriptions dates from this convulsion, but Lord K. was so furious with me about it that he ordered Sir John, in a private letter which the F.M. showed to me, not to allow me to visit his Headquarters any more, and it was not until the battle of the Somme that I was able to see with my own eyes the complete transformation in the relative strength of the two artilleries, effected by a year of Lloyd George's administration of his new office. This was a grief to me, but the only thing that really mattered was the safety of the Army and the success of the cause.

PAGES

George suggests a defensive in the West — Low Country warfare — Lord Burnham and the Calais Conference — I address the Man- chester Chamber of Commerce — A northern business audience — Some plain speaking — Foch says that la grande guerre estfinie — Lord Hardinge of Penshurst on Russia« — Plumer's victory at the Messines Ridge, June 7 — ^Admiral Hall at the Admiralty — Sir John Cowans's advice for the Americans — Allenby replaces Murray in Egypt — Sir Edward Carson on naval affairs — The present military position in France — Lord Crewe's opinion of Lord Kitchener — General Tom Bridges on his mission to the United States — Probable course of American arrivals — Lieut. Pernot on French opinions and events — On Marshal Joffre in America — The Grand Duke Michael and the revolutionaries — A talk with F.M. Sir Douglas Haig at Eastcott — His view of the Flanders position — We agree about the War Cabinet's illusions — General Robertson's opinions — An amusing cartoon — The position at home . . 563-592

MESOPOTAMIA AND EGYPT, 1917

General Maude's letter describing events of the past six months in Mesopotamia — Angry comments on the Mesopotamia Report — A visit to Glynde Place — Indian politics — General Harington on Messines — The Russian Southern Armies attack — A great relief — Lord French and Sir D. Haig reconciled — Reasons for the early failure in Mesopotamia. — A German daylight aeroplane raid on London — Captain Charles Fox on his escape from Germany — Sir Archibald Murray's return — His account of the situation and of his organisation of the advance and conquest of the desert — We lose the Dunes sector at Nieuport — More details from General Murray about his campaign — A talk with General Smuts — His view of the War Cabinet system — His strategy for Palestine — Why it was negatived — His opinion about Man-Power — He thinks that the defeat of Turkey will end the war-r— New political appointments — Russian news bad again — The Southern Armies retreat without cause . . . 593-621

THE SOMME BATTLE, JULY 1916

Monday, July 10. Motored on last night to Cassel, and put up at the Hotel Sauvage. There were a lot of our boys who had walked up to the top of the hill for dinner, and some of them played the piano. A beautiful moonlight night, and a fine view from the balcony at the back of the hotel across the plains. In the morning, at 9.30 a.m., I visited Sir Herbert Plumer, commanding the 2nd Army. His H.Q. are at the big official house at the top of the hill, approached by some rocky steps from the town side. Plumer has the 14th Canadians, the 5th, and the Anzac Army Corps from north to south, bub the Anzacs appear to be trekking south very soon. He agreed with the other Army com- manders that he can hold on, and that the Germans are not strong enough to attack, but he is being skinned of his best troops, and will want some more heavy guns as well as troops if anything serious happens here. He is satisfied that everything is secure. The Canadians and the Anzacs were both very cock-o'-hoop when they first came to this front, but all of them have now had their lesson. Even the Anzacs have learnt that they do not know everything, but they are excellent at raiding. Plumer said that in all the low-lying Flanders country the Germans could not construct deep dug-outs on account of the water, but he said that they could do so on the Wytschaete- Messines Ridges.

THE AMERICAN PROGRAMME

General Murray's situation — Our horses — A recruiting talk with General Geddes — Where the 3£ million men of military age in civil life now are — Austrian and Italian strengths on Italian front — The Italian Isonzo offensive of May 12 — Mr. Lloyd George suggests a defensive in the West — Low Country warfare — Lord Burnham and the Calais Conference — I address the Manchester Chamber of Commerce — A northern business audience — Some plain speaking — Foch says that la grande guerre estfinie — Lord Hardinge on Russia — Plumer's victory at the Messines Ridge, June 7 — Admiral Hall at the Admiralty — Sir John Cowans's advice for the Americans — Allenby replaces Murray in Egypt — Sir Edward Carson on naval affairs — The present military position in France — Lord Crewe's opinion of Lord Kitchener — Genera] Tom Bridges on his mission to the United States — Probable course of American arrivals — Lieut. Pernot on French opinions and events — On Marshal Joffre in America — The Grand Duke Michael and the revolutionaries — A talk with F.M. Sir Douglas Haig at Eastcott — His view of the Flanders position — We agree about the War Cabinet's illusions — General Robertson's opinions — an amusing cartoon — The position at home.

PAGES

Conference — Verdun losses — Views at Chantilly — Journey to Italy — Venice in war time — Italian strengths and dispositions — Udine — Italian and Austrian forces — Russian plans — General Diaz — A visit to the Isonzo and Carso fronts — General Porro — The Carnia front — A mountain fight — Audience with the King of Italy — The General Staff Bureaus — Bulgarian and Turkish dis- positions— Aquileia — Visit to the Trentino front — General Pecori Giraldi — A talk with General Cadorna — The adminis- trative services at Treviso — Colonel Enkel's views — The Cadore front — Italian Alpini — General di Robilant's views — The Asiago battlefield — News of our Somme attack — Return to Paris. . ., 214-251

THE AMERICAN PROGRAMME

General Murray's situation — Our horses — A recruiting talk with General Geddes — Where the 3J million men of military age in civil life now are — Austrian and Italian strengths on Italian front — The Italian Isonzo offensive of May 12 — Mr. Lloyd

ARMIES

General Pecori Giraldi and his Chief of Staff. The former said that the idea of the Italian public that Italy had won a great victory was absurd. He said that he and I both knew perfectly well that the Austrians were not a routed Army. He thought that things would go slow ; and that it was risky to embroil oneself in the extensive fortifications of the Trentino. He then asked me to say frankly what I thought of the Italian troops. I said that I was very pleased with them, but that they had the repute of being better in attack than defence. ' Ah,' he said, ' what can one do with an Army which cannot be trusted to hold a position ! ' I fancy this expressed his feelings regarding the success of the Austrian attack and the loss of prisoners and guns which resulted from it. I tried to make him give an opinion upon the question of going on with the Isonzo offensive, but he would not be drawn. The liaison officer who shepherded us to-day said that the Austrians were good troops, that they were united by a deep devotion to the Emperor Francis Joseph, and that they would go on fighting. He had seen many prisoners, and thought them good men, well fed and clothed; nearly all had medals commemorating the Emperor's Jubilee. When I asked him how he accounted for the esprit de corps in such an Army, he touched his pistol and smiled. He said that the races of Austria were much mixed up in the Army, and that the German element spied upon the rest, and acted as a kind of battle police.

THE AMERICAN PROGRAMME

General Murray's situation — Our horses — A recruiting talk with General Geddes — Where the 3£ million men of military age in civil life now are — Austrian and Italian strengths on Italian front — The Italian Isonzo offensive of May 12 — Mr. Lloyd George suggests a defensive in the West — Low Country warfare — Lord Burnham and the Calais Conference — I address the Manchester Chamber of Commerce — A northern business audience — Some plain speaking — Foch says that la grande guerre estfinie — Lord Hardinge on Russia — Plumer's victory at the Messines Ridge, June 7 — Admiral Hall at the Admiralty — Sir John Cowans's advice for the Americans — Allenby replaces Murray in Egypt — Sir Edward Carson on naval affairs — The present military position in France — Lord Crewe's opinion of Lord Kitchener — Genera] Tom Bridges on his mission to the United States — Probable course of American arrivals — Lieut. Pernot on French opinions and events — On Marshal Joffre in America — The Grand Duke Michael and the revolutionaries — A talk with F.M. Sir Douglas Haig at Eastcott — His view of the Flanders position — We agree about the War Cabinet's illusions — General Robertson's opinions — an amusing cartoon — The position at home.

OPENING OF THE 1917 CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE

Explanation of forces at home — Our need of drafts — Every Depart- ment against the Army — Commander Grenfell harangues the Baltic Fleet — I address the 1900 Club on Man-Power and the War — General Geddes supports me — M. Sevastopoulo on Russian affairs — General Count de Jonghe on the coming attack — The American Women's Hospital — A letter from Sir Archibald Murray on his operations round Gaza — Success of the British attack of April 9 round Arras — General Robertson on the Russians — A talk with General Smuts — My objections to the Flanders operation — Smuts on German E. and S.-W. Africa — His ideas about the Teutonic race — A visit to Brentwood — Dispositions of our Southern Army in England — Miss Wilmot's gardens — Lord Derby's requests to me — General Nivelle takes the German first-line trenches in Champagne . . 506-518

MARCH 1917

My deab Repington, — Just a line to tell you shortly the situation. The Turks had taken up an enormously strong position in the neighbourhood of Shellal and occupied it with about 12,000 or 14,000 men. I had hoped that they would remain and let me attack them as soon as my railway reached Rafa, but when the line had reached Sheikh Zowaiid, within about 10 or 12 miles of Rafa, they retreated, and are now on the line Gaza-Tel el Sharia-Beersheba with about 33,000 men, either on that line or to the south of Jerusalem. On this line they are for the present outside my striking radius, so I have to wait until the railway is fully established at Rafa before I can strike. I do not believe they will stand on the line Gaza-Beer- sheba. They have a holy fear of our cavalry and, as they cannot place both flanks on an obstacle, fear the result of a general engagement.

MARCH 1917

evacuated. This voluntary evacuation of Northern France and Belgium would save the face of the Belgian Army, and I suggested that in this hypothesis the line of the Meuse might be defended, and thence from north of Verdun by Metz to the Rhine. This evacuation, proceeding gradually, may work out to the Meuse by the end of the summer, and then we might all be so tired of righting that we should more or less automatically accept the fait accompli, as it then would be. We should have Mesopotamia, and the French probably Syria, while the Russians would have Armenia, and Turkey would become a German fief. I wondered whether such evacuation as L. G. suggested, and the ravaging of Northern France, might not dispose the French to go on, but, on the whole, the project which the P.M. attributes to the Germans, or at least to Hindenburg, of whom he has a high opinion, is exceedingly interesting, and shows clearly the bent of the P.M.'s mind. The P.M. spoke very highly of Maude, and told us that Murray had just won a good victory in Syria. He was attacked by 20,000 Turks south of Gaza, had killed and wounded 6000 of the enemy, and had taken 900 prisoners and guns. I was delighted, and sent to Lady Murray the first news of it by telephone. I had a few words about Man-Power to the P.M. after lunch, but except the change in the Service Act about re-examination of the unfit, I found him indis- posed to move.

OPENING OP THE 1917 CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE

I said that as the Yankees could not come for a year, and we had not used our man-power, I thought that we should make a splash now, and then when the Germans began to arrive from the Russian front we should take up a good fighting position instead of our present line, which was bad, except on the Vimy Ridge and on the Ancre-Somme sector, dig ourselves in deeply, and wire ourselves up like canaries. Then we could hang on whatever came against us. R. was inclined to agree, and he said that my ideas on what the enemy was likely to do next were in his opinion near the mark. We were all right in France for the moment, and he thought Haig a good man and very determined. But nothing had yet been done about man-power. Maude was doing well but nothing could be got out of AlexeiefE regarding his Caucasus plans, and the Turks might mass against Maude. R. had had to fight a battle for Murray before the War Cabinet last Wednesday, as they were displeased about the Gaza fight, and R. thought them very hypercritical. In a fortnight or so Murray would get going again. I again asked if he had enough troops, and R. assured me that he had. I still do not think it. There were 12 more Indian battalions to join him. R. is very uneasy about French politics, and declares that when Nivelle fights he will fight with a halter round his neck, as Petain disapproves of the offensive, and he and Painleve, with others, are said to be distrustful of Nivelle. R. likes Nivelle, and thinks him straight and frank, but does not know whether he has the qualities for his present position. If Painlev6 succeeds Ribot, Petain may get the Command -in-Chief, but R. says