THE BATTLE  OF FRANCE
also, of course, because the number of motorized
vehicles was infinitely smaller.
In present circumstances we require for each one
of our men about a third of a ton of material of all
kinds per month. Thus, when we have 300,000 men,
we shall want 100,000 tons a month. If, one day, we
have 900,000 men, we shall want 300,000 tons*
Imagine the number of boats that that means, the
movement in the ports, the trains and the convoys
and you'll get some idea of the size of our effort*
'And, what is more, we have to face the fact that
our ports and stations can be bombed and that
the enemy might be able to hold up the continuous
stream that feeds the army for one or several days.
And so we've got to have a start. And we have it.
In each base port, we are establishing a depot where
you can see square miles of bacon, tea, frozen meat,
salt and pepper. At certain points, nearer the armies,
we've set up advance depots: from now on we shall
have supplies both of food and ammunition for
several weeks in advance, so that we are immune
from any surprise/
'Don't you think, sir/ an American correspondent
asked, "that if the weather were too bad this winter,
automobile transport would become impossible in
certain districts?*
'Certainly/ the Q.M.G. replied, cwe shall have to
use horses/
'And mules?'
38