1918-Catastrophe to Victory: Volume 2-The Allied 'hundred Days' Offensive, August-November 1918 (Illustrated with pictures and maps) by John Buchan

Author:John Buchan [Buchan, John]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Leonaur
Published: 2018-06-21T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6: The Final Curtain

Ludendorff had gone, and the Supreme Command was in commission. His nominal successor was von Groener, the Würtemberg general; but von Groener was an administrator rather than a strategist, and such strategical direction as was still possible seems to have been in the hands of von Losberg, formerly Chief of Staff to von Armin’s IV. Army in Flanders. Hindenburg contented himself with appeals for German unity; and the emperor, who on 29th October sought refuge with Army Headquarters at Spa from the troubles of the capital, was in no position to interfere. He was occupied with adapting democratic tunes to the damaged trumpets of absolutism.

Foch was now on the eve of his last step in the West. He had to get Gouraud and Pershing forward so as to cut the Metz-Montmédy-Mezières line and limit the avenues of retreat for the army groups of the Bavarian and Imperial Crown Princes to the gap of Liége, and at the same time to push his British centre down the Sambre towards Namur, so as to make the retirement of the latter impossible. Then would come the final operation—the swinging of his American right north-eastward between Metz and Longuyon so as to cut the Metz-Arlon-Namur railway, and shepherd into captivity the whole of the southern German armies. In such an event, only a few beaten divisions would escape by the pass between Dutch Limburg and the Ardennes, and the most complete catastrophe: in all history would have overtaken the German command.

Haig, having crossed the little streams between the Forest of Mormal and the Scheldt, was ready for his final movement. He was in the position of Wellington on the evening of Waterloo, when he raised his hat as a signal for “everything to go in.” For three months the British armies had been locked in a continuous battle; for nearly ten months they had been in the forefront of the struggle. From 21st March to 27th October no United Kingdom division had been on an average more than 69 days out of the line, while the Australian average was 79 days, and the Canadian 102 days. During the same period the percentage of casualties to strength in the British divisions was 118 for officers and 121 for men. (The Canadian figures were 97 per cent. and 84 per cent., the Australian 83 per cent. and 85 per cent.)

The strain had been colossal, but the reward was very near, and however great the weariness of the Allied troops, it was a small thing compared to the exhaustion of the enemy. The boys of the 1921 class, who had been called up for “national auxiliary service” in occupied territory, were being transferred to the fighting line, so that the ranks, of Germany were becoming like the levies of France when in 1814 they fell back before Blücher and Schwarzenberg. But in this case the defeated armies had no Napoleon.

As a preliminary to the British advance, Valenciennes must fall. At 5.15 on the

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