Chapter 333 Top Secret

Everything was analyzed by Charles and Lucia based on the situation in Brut Village.

The "Lady in White" is an intelligence agency that originated in Belgium, and Ypres belongs to a Belgian town. It is reasonable that Lucia would know and analyze this.

One day, if anyone really doubts Charles because of this matter, the "Lady in White" and even many Belgians who have seen the situation in Brut Village can testify for Charles.

But of course, there is no need for Charles to prove his innocence at this moment.

He immediately returned to the headquarters to inform Gallieni of the intelligence and speculation.

Gallieni actually knew that Charles had an intelligence network in Belgium.

Although the Charles kept it secret from everyone, many people knew that because the Charles saved Belgium, the Belgian people spontaneously organized an intelligence agency to be loyal to the Charles.

After listening to Charles's analysis, Gallieni felt that it made sense. He immediately sent this information to the headquarters. After thinking about it for a while, he felt uneasy and ordered his staff to forward another copy of the information to the Northern Army Group headquarters.

…

The French troops during World War I were divided into four army groups: Army Group North, Army Group Center, Army Group East and Army Reserve Group.

The combat tasks of Army Group North are mainly concentrated in the northern section of the defense line. The commander of the Army Group is concurrently served by French Deputy Commander-in-Chief Foch.

The headquarters is located in the small town of Varney near Cambrai.

This was Foch's style. He would not expose his headquarters to the public eye. He believed that this 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 ushered in a period of emptiness.

The enemy and we seemed to have a tacit understanding and did not launch a large-scale attack:

The Germans needed to transport scarce supplies to the Ottoman Empire to reinforce their battles, and they did not have the energy to launch a large-scale offensive.

France is watching the battle on the Gallipoli Peninsula. If it achieves a decisive victory, a frontal attack will not be necessary.

However, Foch would occasionally organize regimental-level attacks because he believed this would maintain the morale of his troops.

On this day, Foch chose a sunny window and sat in a rocking chair while basking in the sun and reading the newspaper.

Foch didn't read newspapers often, and his staff reported everything directly to him. He thought this was more concise and time-saving.

But these two days were different, because it published Charles' speech in parliament:

“I don’t think Foch’s offensive theory is correct, nor do I agree with Pétain’s defensive theory.”

"The right thing is to attack sometimes and defend sometimes."

"We cannot simplify complex battlefield issues, let alone rely on a single, simple, one-sided theory to fight and hope to win by relying on it."

…

After reading it, Foch smiled softly, folded up the newspaper and threw it on the desk next to him.

He gently exerted force to rock the rocking chair back and forth, and murmured an evaluation:

"If the theory of attack was wrong, what were the Allies doing on Gallipoli?"

"Char, a great military strategist, isn't he launching an attack?"

…

This is one of the reasons why the "offensive theory" is so popular and is regarded as an unchallengable tactical theory by France: all cases of victory due to offense can be used as arguments for the "offensive theory", and almost all victories are achieved during the attack. obtained.

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 be said that the German army adopted the "offensive theory" and adopted this theory more resolutely, bravely and effectively than the French army, and therefore won the victory.

Therefore, whether France, which uses this theory, wins or fails on the battlefield, it is not the fault of the "offensive theory", but the soldiers' insufficient belief in it!

Foch was gradually falling asleep under the lazy sunshine. At this time, staff officer Morini came forward to report: "General, the telegram from the city defense headquarters is related to Charles."

Foch opened his eyes suddenly.

Morini handed over the telegram with his remaining hand and said: "Galieni said that Charles believes that the Germans are likely to use a poison gas to attack us in the near future."

"Poison gas?" Foch took the telegram from Morini, glanced at it, and replied simply with two words: "Top secret."

"Yes, General." These two words mean that the information must be blocked and it cannot be transmitted out of the command headquarters.

Then, Morini asked doubtfully: "General, do you think this is possible? The Germans will attack us with poison gas?"

"No." Foch shook his head and then commented: "This is a guess without any evidence, that's all. Of course we can't go to war because of speculation, even though the person who made the guess is Charles."

Morini nodded in agreement. If every guess was taken seriously, the most likely outcome would be that the soldiers died of exhaustion.

Then Morini's face showed confusion. If this was the case, why did Foch classify it as "top secret"?

Foch seemed to have seen through Morini's thoughts. He asked instead of answering: "If this information reaches the army, what do you think the result will be?"

Morini instantly understood that the soldiers would be frightened by the unknown poisonous gas, the troops would be panicked, and the soldiers would be suspicious and unwilling to fight.

This was one of the core elements of Foch's "offensive theory": to keep morale high at all times and to convince the soldiers that they were winning.

Foch yawned and handed the telegram back to Morini with a casual tone: "Do you know how to answer the call?"

"Yes, General!" Morini took the telegram and walked to the telecommunications room.

…

"We are confirming it, please be sure to keep this information confidential!"

This was the call the City Defense Headquarters received from Army Group North, while Xiafei's headquarters was as silent as a cow in the sea with no response at all.

Ciel was a little surprised by the result. This was a poisonous gas war, and the warning he issued only received a harmless sentence?

But when I think about it, it seems normal.

At this time, there was no precedent for poison gas warfare, and everyone did not understand or even think that it existed, just like no one believed that such a thing existed before the invention of the tank.

More importantly, once word spreads about the poison gas war, it is likely to shake the morale of the military, and Charles is the source. They may 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!"

Obviously, Gallieni also saw the negative side of this intelligence: if the poison gas did not exist, it would have a negative impact on the Allies.

But Ciel is certain that it exists and will appear on the battlefield soon.