Chapter 559: Charles Begins the Counterattack
Haig was startled awake by the sound of artillery fire. He quickly got up, swung open the door, and rushed to the observation window, raising his binoculars.
The French positions on the southern bank of the Somme River were engulfed in explosions, like a sea of fire, while the British positions remained almost untouched.
It was clear that the Germans had concentrated their artillery fire on the French lines on the southern bank, launching an offensive against the French defenses.
A hint of satisfaction appeared on Haig’s face. The battle was unfolding just as he had hoped. Soon, he would hear Charles and the Parliament calling for help.
After a moment of consideration, Haig ordered his staff, “Inform the French Ministry of War that the Germans have suddenly launched an offensive concentrated on the French lines on the southern bank of the Somme River.”
“Yes, General!”
Haig smiled faintly. He was more than happy to share this "good news" with Paris.
...
In the Bourbon Palace in Paris, besides the assembly hall, there was a complex of over a hundred auxiliary buildings, including accommodations for out-of-town members of Parliament.
Thus, even under martial law, with the Parliament almost entirely cut off from the outside world, the MPs could still maintain their elegant lifestyles in private rooms and enjoy fine meals.
Gallieni also resided here. To keep a close watch on the MPs and prevent them from wandering, he had chosen to stay on the ground floor.
Unlike the MPs, Gallieni, who was in charge of enforcing martial law, was constantly in touch with the outside world, relaying information to Parliament in real time.
At 5:10 a.m., Gallieni was already awake, though not yet out of bed.
The previous night, he had argued with the MPs for hours, insisting that appointing a commander-in-chief to take charge of the overall situation was an urgent priority.
The mutiny on the frontlines was no longer confined to the Somme River.
Although the Somme was the epicenter, the unrest had spread to other regions and continued to grow.
Charles could barely stabilize the situation on the Somme, leaving him powerless to act elsewhere.
If the Germans launched a full-scale counteroffensive, it would still be a catastrophic blow to the French army.
However, Parliament was characterized by its “deliberation.” It had taken several days to even settle on three preliminary candidates: Petain, Foch, and Charles.
Charles had only been nominated by Steed, Wells, and a few others.
But Gallieni knew Charles would not be chosen.
Not because Charles wasn’t excellent, but because he was too excellent—so capable that Parliament feared he might become a “dictator” who would no longer need their authority.
Just pick someone—anyone—Gallieni thought. At this point, even choosing an idiot like Joffre or Nivelle would be better than having no commander-in-chief at all.
A knock came at the door.
Before Gallieni could respond, Lieutenant Colonel Fernand’s anxious voice sounded from outside: “General, the Germans have launched an offensive on the Somme. They are attacking only the French lines!”
Gallieni’s expression changed dramatically. He sat up abruptly as though pricked by a needle.
“Only the French lines?”
The Germans must have learned something!
Who leaked the information?
Gallieni quickly donned his uniform and issued an order: “Wake everyone up—immediately! Convene an emergency meeting!”
“Yes, General,” replied Lieutenant Colonel Fernand.
...
In the Bourbon Palace conference hall, MPs trickled in, taking their seats leisurely.
The concept of an “emergency meeting” was foreign to them. Even an ordinary agenda item could drag on for days. Rising at five o’clock was already a concession to the situation.
Had it not been for Lieutenant Colonel Fernand deploying guards to personally rouse each MP, it would have taken at least another hour for them to assemble.
After waking up, they had to wash, have breakfast, chat while eating, and perhaps even try on a few outfits…
“Gentlemen,” Gallieni began loudly, unable to wait any longer. He spoke before everyone was seated. “We’ve just received news that the Germans have launched an offensive on the Somme!”
The hall erupted in an uproar. The MPs’ faces turned pale. Those still searching for seats froze in place, staring blankly at Gallieni.
“It’s obvious,” Gallieni added, “that the Germans know something. They are only attacking the southern bank of the Somme—the French lines.”
The MPs grew more restless, their whispers intensifying:
“Someone must have leaked the information. The Germans know the French army is in chaos from widespread mutinies.”
“It’s up to Charles now. Let’s hope he can hold off the German offensive.”
“We should send reinforcements. We can’t pin all our hopes on Charles!”
...
But someone quickly opposed this suggestion:
“Send reinforcements? Do you realize the mutiny is spreading like a plague?”
“If reinforcements are sent to the front, they might get ‘infected’ and mutiny too!”
“We can only station them in the rear. At least this way, they can provide an additional line of defense for Paris.”
...
The additional line of defense for Paris was a façade; the real purpose was to buy time for the MPs to retreat.
Everyone knew that if the main forces of the three frontline army groups were annihilated, the reserve army group under Gallieni’s command—France’s weakest unit—would not hold. France’s collapse would then be imminent.
At this moment, Lieutenant General Avis, who had been stuck in Paris under martial law, could no longer stay silent.
As a British commander, Avis originally held little sway in Parliament.
But in these extraordinary times, his control over supplies had granted him a semblance of “privilege,” or so he believed.
“Gentlemen!” Avis strode confidently to the podium. Despite his best efforts to hide it, his voice carried a trace of smugness. “I believe now is the time for unity. We cannot stand idly by while our allies face danger. I also believe that only through deeper cooperation can we overcome the current crisis!”
The hall broke into applause. The MPs nodded in approval:
“Now that’s a steadfast ally.”
“Only Britain can save France now.”
“He’s right. We can’t keep defending our own lines; the Germans will defeat us piecemeal!”
...
Steed, Wells, and the other centrists remained expressionless.
They understood the veiled meaning behind Avis’s words: Kneel, and we will protect you.
The so-called “deeper cooperation” meant allowing the British to infiltrate every French command structure and take full control of the war’s direction.
Gallieni also understood this but had no alternative.
Compared to German forces marching on Paris and forcing France to surrender, Avis’s proposal might be the lesser evil.
As Gallieni hesitated, Lieutenant Colonel Fernand rushed in. “General, Charles has begun a counterattack!”
“What? A counterattack?” Gallieni was stunned.
The MPs looked at Lieutenant Colonel Fernand in disbelief.
Dawn had not yet broken, and the German artillery bombardment was still ongoing. The German offensive hadn’t even started. Charles was launching a counterattack with troops that had recently been mutinous and whose morale had not fully recovered… a counterattack?!