WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

CHAPTER
XIV
SUMMARY AND RESULTS OF 1917 CAMPAIGN
Twofold methods of belligerents — Time on the Allied side — Success of national
organisation — Central Powers victorious on land — Bitter legacy of Chantilly
— Russia's final collapse — Losses and discouragements of Western Allies —
British victorious in Asia and Africa — Importance of Baghdad — Versailles
Inter-Allied Staff — Tanks at Cambrai — America's entry into the War —
Crucial part played by British Navy — A war of endurance — Success of antisubmarine
organisation — Declining morale in Germany.
WHAT was the net result of the fourth campaign in this world
struggle of infuriated nations? At the end of it some of them
were prostrate and never rose again to continue the fight.
Others were staggering in the ring. Even those who stood
firmly on their feet and were able still to hit reeling blows
were gashed with wounds and visibly becoming exhausted
from loss of blood. The Allied group sought to gain the ascendency
by two general methods. For one the military
chiefs were responsible. The other was left to the Navy and
the Civil Administration. The military idea was to force an
immediate decision by hitting with the whole strength of
their armies at the most formidable but least vulnerable
parts in the enemy's defensive system — the Governments
had to ensure that, if these onslaughts failed to take effect,
the reserve of national power should be sustained and stimulated,
so that it might outlast that of their adversaries. In
the prosecution of the first aim of this double policy, the
Western Allies undertook tremendous attacks on the German
entrenchments in France, Flanders and Italy, with a view
to breaking through their defences and defeating the most
redoubtable enemy of the Alliance. In pursuit of the second