FOREWORD
THIS is a strangely built book. The first part
—'Pictures of the British Armies'—might be
called: Tool's Paradise, or the War without
a War/ It is made up of sketches of the B.E.F.
which were published in Paris each week from the
beginning of November.
I had been asked by the Army Council to
accompany the British forces as French official Eye-
witness. I was delighted to have the opportunity of
joining my old friends once again. We were full of
hope. I spent at G.H.Q., and with the armies,
several happy months.
When I read what I wrote then, in perfect good
faith, I wonder why and how we did not realize at
once that our numbers were too small, our equip-
ment scanty, our defence inadequate. As a matter of
fact, we did realize it from time to time, but there
was a conspiracy of optimism. Strict censorship and
misplaced loyalty combined to discourage criticism.
If these sketches are now still worth reading, it will
be mainly because of their significant omissions.
The second part of this book is a diary of the