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General
Sir Douglas Haig, commanding First Army
"Wednesday,
29th Septemebr 1915. My dear Lord
Kitchener, You will doubtless recollect how earnestly I pressed
you to ensure an adequate Reserve being close in rear of my attacking
Divisions, and under my orders. It may interest you to know what
has happened. No Reserve was placed under me. My attack, as has
been reported, was a complete success. The enemy had no troops
in his second line, which some of my plucky fellows reached and
entered without opposition. Prisoners state the enemy was so hard
put to it for troops to stem our advance that the officer's servants,
fatigue-men, etc., in Lens were pushed forward to hold their second
line East of Loos and Hill 70. The two Reserve Divisions (under
C-in-C's orders) were directed to join me as soon as teh success
of First Army was known at GHQ. They ...crossed our old trench
line...at 6pm. We had captured Loos 12 hours previously. We were
in a position to make this the turning point in the war...but
naturally I feel very annoyed at the lost opportunity." (Private
papers)
Haig
was in regular and close dialogue with Kitchener, Lord Haldane
and King George V on this subject, throughout October. In these
personal, off the record and intimate discussions, he was asked
his views about French.
Field-Marshal
Sir John French, commanding BEF
Sir
John's official Despatch is published in The Times on 2nd
November 1915. It is full of mis-statements of fact, concerning
the timing of the transfer of the Reserves to First Army command.
A supporting article by repington suggest sthings may have gone
better had French been in command of the fighting army, rather
than Haig. The latter writes to GHQ, asking for the Despatch to
be publicly corrected. French refuses.
3rd
December 1915. Kitchener indicated to Haig that he will
approach the Prime Minister with a view to appointing him to succeed
French.
10th
December 1915. Haig receives a telegram informing him that
Sir John french has resigned, and he is appointed Commander-in-Chief,
BEF subject to the formailty of the King's assent. Sir
William Robertson is to be appointed Chief of the Imperial
General Staff, in London.
During
this time, little operational analysis is carried out. Many of
the lessons of Loos are not learned, and many of the mistakes
are repeated with uncanny similarity on the first day of the Battle
of the Somme, 1st July 1916.
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