To the Last Man - Jeff Shaara [302]
The door was closed behind them, each man’s secretary seating himself along one wall. Pershing moved to one end of the long table, said, “I am anxious to know your plans, Marshal Haig.”
“As well you should be, General.”
Haig sat at the far end of the table, Foch and Pétain now on either side. Haig said, “General Foch and I are convinced that the enemy has considerably reduced his effective strength along the British sector, in order to compensate for the difficulties he has suffered below Soissons. We have evidence of substantial troop movements away from the Cambrai region, and the salient around Montdidier. It is a testament to the fine work of the combined Allied forces. In addition, it is my belief that the enemy in front of the British sector is weakened as well by his own decay. As I have communicated to my government, the German reserves are of such poor quality that the enemy is unable to replace what he is losing in combat. I believe it to be a certainty that within a short time, the German reserves will be entirely exhausted. I believe as well that our strength in artillery and aircraft is rapidly overtaking his, and with the addition of the American divisions, our manpower will increasingly overpower his. The most formidable weapon the German soldier has is the Maxim machine gun. We now have the tank, and in increasing numbers. It is not a fair contest.”
Pershing glanced at Foch, saw a subtle nod. Of course, they have already had this discussion. A decision has already been made. Now, I shall be allowed to hear what it is.
Haig continued, “With the apparent movement of his forces away from my front, the enemy has granted us an opportunity. I am quite pleased to inform you that, commencing on August eighth, we shall launch an operation that should take full advantage of his weakness. The weather is accommodating, our troops are fit and anxious to share in the successes of their allies. And, to be frank, my men are eager to reclaim their pride and the territory that was taken from us this past March.”
He looked toward Foch, who said, “The assault will take place between Amiens and Montdidier, at the farthest point west the enemy has established his position. General Pétain, because of the current position of French, American, and British divisions along the front, I have determined that the British shall engage in concert with ten French divisions now deployed in the Soissons-Montdidier sector. General Pershing, the American Thirty-third division is currently completing its training, and is positioned in reserve along the British sector. I am hopeful you will consent to allowing that division to take part in the offensive, since they are already in place. This is not a time to undergo a massive transfer of troops from one position to another. It is this very deployment that gives us the advantage of which Marshal Haig speaks.”
Pershing nodded. “Under the circumstances, that is acceptable.”
Haig’s secretary stepped forward now, passed out maps to each of the commanders. Haig said, “I am most happy to answer any questions, gentlemen.”
Pershing studied the map, the designation of the various British, Anzac and Canadian divisions, the position of the French farther south. The American Thirty-third was designated as well, and Pershing held tightly to his reaction that the other American divisions still in training were noted on Haig’s map as well.
When the massive German offensives began in the spring, American divisions had been spread out in training facilities from one end of the front to the other, from the English Channel to Lorraine. Though the Allied commanders seemed quite clear about Pershing’s intentions to unite the American forces into one cohesive army, the severity of the crisis had brought various AEF forces into the fight alongside French units, under the overall authority of French corps commanders. Though the Americans had fought under their own division commanders around Château-Thierry, they fought as part of a larger French command. It was the same reason