WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

CHAPTER X
THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI
Tank Corps seeks a favourable battlefield - General Fuller plans a "theatrical
blow" — Objection of G.H.Q. — Brilliant opening success — Lack of reserves
causes defeat — Success of German counterattack — Secrecy about defeat —Cabinet
indignant at lack of news — An inquiry ordered — Changed tone of Times —
The Inquiry burked — Fighting troops blamed — Staff Officers' excessive modesty
— Lack of tactical training.
WHEN the Tank Corps officers perceived how completely
their predictions as to the effect of a heavy bombardment on
a drained morass had been realised, they came to the conclusion
that as far as their machinery was concerned, it could
render no effective help under such conditions. They were
equally convinced that victory was unattainable by any other
arm on such a battlefield. They therefore set about making
a study of the whole of the British Front with a view to
formulating a plan for attacking the enemy on a sector where
tanks had a fair chance of showing what they could accomplish.
The tanks had failed to achieve much on the Somme
because in spite of the protest of all those who knew anything
about that ingenious contrivance, Sir Douglas Haig
insisted on throwing a few specimen machines into the fight
without waiting until a sufficient number had been manufactured
to enable him to hurl a resistless mass of them against
the enemy lines. It was part of the "Tanker" dream to effect
with a large number of machines a surprise attack for which
the enemy were not prepared. The Tank leaders asked for a
fair opportunity to demonstrate the value of their invention.
They were given the swamps of Passchendaele. When General
Gough appreciated that it was ground over which even