Chapter 328: Steel Helmets
The parliamentary inquiry ended with some trivial questions, such as:
"Colonel, do you believe your military talents have surpassed those of Foch and Pétain?"
"Do you think their military theories are wrong? If so, how do you explain their ability to achieve victory on the battlefield?"
"Would you use your military talents to benefit your own business?"
...
Charles answered slowly, one by one:
"This isn't a question of military talent, sir. We are all still exploring in this war. Of course, I don't think I've surpassed them."
"Everyone has different ideas, and that's normal. As for which military theory is correct, I believe it should not be for me to answer, but for the battlefield, the facts, and the soldiers themselves to decide. This is important because it concerns the lives of the soldiers. They have the right to choose what tactics they wish to use in battle."
"Am I seeking to benefit my business? No, sir! I don't think so. I have always been working for the benefit of the French people!"
...
Charles' answers were evasive.
The purpose of these questions wasn't to actually learn the answers.
The lawmakers were clever; they knew that military theory is "proven by practice." Discussing right and wrong was useless and meaningless. It had to be applied on the battlefield and proven by victory to be validated.
However, they still asked these questions to provoke Charles into offending both Foch and Pétain.
The former was the Vice Commander-in-Chief of France and the commander of the Northern Army Group. Though his authority didn't match that of Joffre, his influence was much greater, as the entire army was currently using his offensive ideas in battle.
As for the latter, though he was still a junior officer, he was already emerging as a key figure.
Pétain had long championed defensive theory. As a result, he served as a lieutenant for 5 years, a captain for 7 years, and a major for 10 years. Before the war broke out, he was still a colonel commanding just one regiment, and he was already 58 years old.
As the saying goes, circumstances shape men. The trench warfare of World War I was a perfect match for Pétain's defensive theory. He led his troops to achieve great success on the battlefield, rising from colonel to brigadier general, and then major general in just a few months. By then, he was already commanding the 33rd Army.
To offend both of these senior figures at the same time would bring Charles no benefit. It would only make people think Charles was stubborn and disrespectful of his superiors.
As for whether Charles was seeking to benefit his own business, the lawmakers tried to paint him as a capitalist who wanted to monopolize the arms market and control the country.
Although Charles indeed had such intentions in his heart, he couldn't say it aloud. If he did, the next day's newspapers would immediately launch a scathing attack against him.
Charles inwardly sighed: This is a war, just without the smoke. Every word, every question is a trap. If you're not careful, you might step into a pit. The capitalists are like magnifying glasses aimed at Charles. If he says even one wrong word, they would seize it and blow it up without end.
Fortunately, Charles knew how to handle it. As long as he acted confused, spoke in a roundabout manner, and gave answers that seemed like answers but weren't really, he would succeed.
...
Finally escaping the parliamentary chamber, Charles returned to the city defense headquarters, not far from the House of Commons.
Gallieni seemed to be waiting for him. The moment Charles appeared at the corridor entrance, Gallieni gave him a once-over and said, "You seem quite at ease, Colonel. I underestimated you!"
"Not really," Charles answered helplessly. "I feel more tired than if I had fought a battle!"
Charles was speaking the truth. Although it was still cold in April, he was drenched in sweat by the time he left the House of Commons.
Then, Charles asked in confusion, "They didn't tell me the result, General. Whether it's passed or not, no one has told me."
"You thought the result would come out immediately?" Gallieni asked with a teasing smile, his eyes full of helplessness as he looked at Charles. "They'll need to discuss it for at least a few days, maybe longer. Colonel, if it passes, it still has to go to the Senate, and the Senate has the power to veto it."
"If it's vetoed, then it's over?" Charles asked.
"No," Gallieni shook his head gently. "The House of Commons can propose it again. If the Senate vetoes it three times, and the House of Commons passes it the fourth time, it no longer needs to go to the Senate."
Charles understood. The Senate's "veto" was another form of "delaying time." The real decision-making power was still in the hands of the House of Commons. If the House of Commons insisted on passing a certain proposal, it would pass; it was only a matter of time.
No wonder the countries that adopted this system were so inefficient. The different interests of the parties in the two chambers led to constant pulling and digging of pits. Even if something was eventually passed, it would probably be too late to be useful.
It was like changing military uniforms. If they waited for all the procedures to go through, it would take at least half a year, or even one or two years. By then, the battle would be over. What was the point of passing it smoothly?
"That's why we need wartime procurement regulations," Gallieni explained. "It allows us to bypass parliament when purchasing equipment. But changing military uniforms isn't just a matter of procurement."
Charles nodded, understanding. As the lawmakers had said, it also concerned France's dignity and whether the soldiers were willing to go on the offensive.
These idiots, they actually hope that the red military trousers and caps will spur the soldiers to charge toward the enemy.
Charles' mind drifted to the red Fez hats of the Ottoman army. Did they fight so bravely because of the red stimulus?
This might provide a perfect argument for the lawmakers who supported this idea.
Then Charles thought of helmets. His eyes lit up, and he asked Gallieni, "General, if changing military uniforms is too sensitive to be included in the wartime procurement regulations, what about equipping soldiers with steel helmets?"
"Steel helmets?" Gallieni looked at Charles in confusion. "Do you think they're useful?"
At this time, steel helmets were hardly in use. People thought they couldn't stop bullets, so they were considered not only useless but a waste of resources, adding unnecessary burden to the soldiers.
But this idea was clearly wrong.
"Of course, they're useful, General," Charles replied. "I have experienced it firsthand on the battlefield. On the battlefield, it's not only bullets that injure soldiers. There are also shrapnel and even rocks thrown by exploding shells."
In fact, the function of steel helmets was not limited to that. They could really stop bullets.
As long as the bullet didn't hit the helmet directly, the curved surface of the helmet would usually deflect it, just like a shell hitting the sloped armor of a tank and bouncing off.
Gallieni thought for a moment and said, "If you think that way, you can give it a try."
"Not changing the military cap definitely doesn't fall under the issue of changing military uniforms."
"You can try to produce a batch, and once they're sent to the battlefield, observe the reaction of the soldiers and the battlefield. If they prove effective, parliament won't be able to stop it!"
If it has already been proven to be effective, and someone still tries to block it, it will just reveal to everyone that they want to kill the soldiers on the front lines.
Charles responded confidently, "Yes, General!"