WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

530 WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE
people years after the disclosure had ceased to be of any
service to them or their valiant sons. In his paper reviewing
the military position, he completely overlooks the great battle
that was then raging as if its outcome would not affect the
position either way. He relies rather on accepted commonplaces
such as that "no country ever has had, or probably
ever will have, sufficient resources to seek a decision in two
theatres at the same time."
"The first rule of all wars is to concentrate in the main
theatre all forces that can be supplied. Any departure from
this rule has invariably proved to be disastrous."
I wonder what Grant would have said to this rule when
Sherman was sent marching through Georgia in order to
turn the Confederate flank!
When there are several theatres, a decision ought to be
sought where it is most likely to be found. In any war or
battle the decisive theatres vary according to fluctuating
conditions. It is only the generals who see the flank on which
opportunity has arisen and take it without hesitation that
win victories.
Robertson is very bitter about the French:
Politics have there largely taken the place of patriotism.
French Ministers are thinking mainly of the rear, and not of the
front of their Armies — that is, of the pressure likely to be put
upon them by Deputies who are interested in releasing this or
that class of men from the Armies, and not of the great military
problems which face the Entente.
This is rather hard on a people who had made such tremendous
sacrifices and who had called to the Army one out
of every seven of the population. He is just as contemptuous
about the Americans: