To the Last Man - Jeff Shaara [149]
“I have no reason to believe that. Messines was—”
“Yes, yes, Messines. Douglas Haig’s great triumph. Now what? Are the Germans in a mad retreat toward Berlin? No. Marshal Haig captured a hill. The English newspapers have something positive to write about. So what happens now? I am concerned that Marshal Haig is, as you Americans say, drunk with victory. Is that unfair? Perhaps. Time will tell. Already he is talking of a new plan, pushing his army forward across Flanders.”
Pershing had heard nothing of a new strategy, could not hide a frown.
Pétain said, “Surprised? Ah, that is not a good thing. You spent a week in London and no one thought to inform you what was happening?”
“It seems not.” Pershing was impressed and a little uncomfortable by Pétain’s insights, felt as though the man was reading him a little too clearly.
Pétain stood, moved to a small desk, pulled a piece of paper from a drawer. He returned to the chair, said, “I wonder if the same can be said for your government, John?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“In a moment. First can you tell me your expectations, when you hope to have troops on the ground?”
“The First Division will arrive in weeks. Twenty-seven thousand men, approximately. As you know, we have organized our divisions to be roughly twice the size of a typical French or British division. Monsieur Painlevé has already put my staff in contact with your people, who will guide us to our training facilities. We must still send several thousand support personnel before the First can be put into the line. I do not have to explain to you, of course, the logistics required in housing, feeding, and equipping these men.”
“What of your Second Division. The Third? How many more?”
Pershing took a deep breath.
“I don’t know precisely. So much is up to Washington. We are intending to lay considerable groundwork for transporting an enormous force across the Atlantic. We are already facing challenges of shipping, of armament. The training facilities in America are only now being constructed. My best estimate is that the American Expeditionary Force will not be combat-effective until next spring. If you wonder if I am embarrassed by our lack of preparation, then, yes, I am considerably embarrassed. My country did not adequately prepare for the possibility of war. I have always believed that was a mistake. But it was not in my power to change that. It is now.” His voice had risen, and Pershing gripped the arms of the chair, calmed himself. “Forgive me.”
Pétain glanced at the letter in his hand. “But you do expect an army, yes?”
Pershing was puzzled by the question. “Of course. That’s why I’m here.”
Pétain handed him the letter now, said nothing. Pershing saw it was from the chief of staff, Tasker Bliss. Pétain said, “This was passed to me from . . . well, from someone in my government. You understand that sometimes discretion is required. It was anticipated that you might be interested in its contents.”
Pershing read, felt himself sinking into the chair.
General Pershing’s expedition is being sent abroad on the urgent insistence of Marshal Joffre . . . we have yielded to this view and a force is being sent solely to produce a moral effect. If all necessary arrangements are not made on the other side, it is the fault of the French General Staff and not of ourselves, since their officers . . . are fully cognizant of our unprepared state for sending a serious expedition for serious business. Our General Staff had made no plan for prompt dispatch of reinforcements to General Pershing, nor the prompt dispatch of considerable forces to France. . . . Thus far we have no plans for this.
Major General Tasker Bliss—Acting Chief of Staff
Pershing felt his brain beginning to boil, the two words burying into him. Moral effect. Pétain said, “According to General Bliss, your mission has been a success. The French people have already given you your . . . moral victory.”
Pershing handed him the paper, could not