Chapter 333 Top Secret
Everything was analyzed by Charles and Lucia based on the situation in Brute Village.
The "Madam in White" is an intelligence agency that originated in Belgium, and Ypres is a town in Belgium. It is reasonable for Lucia to know and analyze this.
If one day someone really suspects Charles because of this, the "Lady in White" and even many Belgians who have seen the situation in Brute Village can testify for Charles.
But of course, there was no need for Ciel to go to the trouble of proving his innocence at the moment.
He immediately returned to the headquarters and informed Gallieni of the intelligence and speculation.
Gallieni actually knew that Charles had an intelligence network in Belgium.
Although Charles kept it secret from everyone, many people knew: because Charles saved Belgium, the Belgian people spontaneously organized an intelligence agency loyal to Charles.
After listening to Charles' analysis, Gallieni felt that it made sense. He immediately sent the information to the General Headquarters. However, after considering for a while, he felt uneasy again and ordered his staff to forward another copy of the information to the Northern Army Group Headquarters.
…
French troops during World War I were divided into four army groups: Army Group North, Army Group Center, Army Group East and Army Group Reserve.
The combat missions of the Northern Army Group were mainly concentrated in the northern section of the defense line, and the commander of the army group was concurrently served by French Deputy Commander-in-Chief Foch.
The headquarters was located in the small town of Varney near Cambrai.
This was Foch's style. He would not expose his command to the public, as he believed it would be detrimental to the offensive of the troops.
During the period when Germany and Britain were competing on the Gallipoli Peninsula, the French defense line had a window period.
The enemy and us seemed to have a tacit understanding and did not launch a large-scale attack:
The Germans needed to ship their already scarce supplies to the Ottoman Empire to reinforce its battle, and they had no spare energy to launch a large-scale offensive.
France was watching the war on the Gallipoli Peninsula. If it achieved a decisive victory, there would be little need for a frontal attack.
However, Foch would occasionally organize regimental attacks, as he believed this would maintain the morale of his troops.
That day, Foch chose a sunny window, sat in a rocking chair, basking in the sun while reading the newspaper.
Foch did not often read newspapers. His staff would report everything directly to him, as he believed this was more concise and saved time.
But these two days were different because it published Charles' speech in Parliament:
“I do not believe that Foch’s theory of attack is correct, nor do I agree with Pétain’s theory of defense.”
"The correct approach should be to sometimes attack and sometimes defend."
"We cannot simplify complex battlefield issues, nor can we rely on a single, simple, one-sided theory to fight and hope to win."
…
After reading it, Foch smiled gently, folded the newspaper and threw it on the desk next to him.
He gently exerted force to make the rocking chair rock back and forth, muttering an evaluation to himself:
"If the theory of the attack was wrong, then what were the Allies doing on the Gallipoli Peninsula?"
"Charles, the great military strategist, isn't he launching an attack?"
…
This is one of the reasons why the "offensive theory" became popular and was regarded by France as an unchallengeable tactical theory: all battles won due to offense can serve as arguments for the "offensive theory", and almost all victories were achieved through offense.
For example, Paris was occupied by Germany during the Franco-German War.
This can indeed be said to be a failure of French tactics, but at the same time it can also be said that the German army adopted the "offensive theory" and adopted this theory more resolutely, bravely and effectively than the French army, which is why they won the victory.
Therefore, whether France, which used this theory, won or lost on the battlefield, it was not the fault of the "offensive theory", but the soldiers' lack of faith in it!
Foch was gradually falling asleep in the lazy sunshine. At this time, the staff officer Morini came forward to report: "General, there is a telegram from the city defense headquarters, which is related to Charles."
Foch suddenly opened his eyes.
Morini handed over the telegram with his only remaining hand and said, "Galieni said Charles thinks it is very likely that the Germans will use a poison gas to attack us soon."
"Poison gas?" Foch took the telegram from Morini, glanced at it, and replied with two words: "Top secret."
"Yes, General." These two words meant that the information was to be blocked and could not leave the command center.
Then, Morini asked doubtfully, "General, do you also think this is possible? Will the Germans attack us with poison gas?"
"No." Foch shook his head and then gave his evaluation: "This is a guess without any evidence, that's all. We certainly can't go to war over guesses, even if the one who made the guess was Charles."
Morini nodded in agreement. If every speculation was taken seriously, the most likely result would be that the soldiers would be exhausted to death.
Then Morini's face showed confusion again. If that was the case, why did Foch classify it as "top secret"?
Foch seemed to see through Morini's thoughts. He did not answer but asked: "If this information is passed to the troops, what do you think will be the result?"
Morini understood instantly that the soldiers would be frightened by the unknown poison gas, the troops would be in panic, and the soldiers would be suspicious and have no intention of fighting.
This is one of the core elements of Foch's "offensive theory": always keep morale high and make the soldiers believe that they are winning.
Foch yawned, handed the telegram back to Morini, and said casually: "Do you know how to reply?"
"Yes, General!" Morini walked towards the telecommunications room with the telegram.
…
"We are currently confirming this. Please keep this information confidential!"
This was the call back that the City Defense Command received from the Northern Army Group, but there was no response at all from Joffre's General Headquarters.
Charles was somewhat surprised by the result. This was a gas war, and the warning he issued was only met with such a bland response?
But on second thought, this seems normal.
There was no precedent for gas warfare at this time, and everyone was puzzled and didn't even think it existed, just like no one believed in the existence of the tank before it was invented.
More importantly, once the news of the gas warfare gets out, it is likely to shake the morale of the army, and Charles is the source. They even have reason to send Charles to a military court!
Gallieni shook his head helplessly: "They don't seem to believe you, Colonel, let's end this matter here!"
Obviously, Gallieni also saw the downside of this intelligence: if the poison gas did not exist, it would have a negative impact on the Allies.
But Charles was certain that it existed and would soon appear on the battlefield.
(End of this chapter)
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