GERMAN STRATEGY
SIR,—The origin and development of the Battle of the Marne have been so well thrashed out that I do not propose to reopen it except to say that the swerve to the east of Paris undoubtedly left a flank open to attack and this was the occasion of the stand on the Marne. Joffre had determined to retreat to the Seine. As to the question of the time of invasion, a number of points have to be borne in mind: (s) The Germans kept their time table in France so that the result, if not its " completeness," was no surprise; (2) it was dear from May 21st that evacuation or disaster confronted us; (3) embarkation and disembarkation had been practised thoroughly by the Germans the preceding winter in the Baltic, ships had been accumulated and were actually used in the invasion of Norway. I am the last to credit the Germans with invincibility, but they have their qualities, and one of them is the habit of planning ahead. If they were to give two months' warning before attacking, they would risk the same development as the Italians have seen: the defence would be nearly as strong as the attacking force. Germany's date for our final defeat was August 15th. They gave us too much notice.
Mr. Corbett must not accuse me of using "Britain " willingly. One has to choose some acceptable convention; and what I should prefer
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