6 - Third Artois, June–October 1915

Summary

Planning began again immediately for the next campaign, in which Foch’s part would be the dispiritingly named Third Battle of Artois. Both Foch and Joffre suffered from the effects of their previous failures. Joffre’s freedom was curbed by Poincaré and his ministers, who insisted on properly constituted army groups and regular meetings. It was curbed further by the parliament, whose two Army Commissions began to demand and to win greater control over the commander-in-chief’s actions through inspections on the ground. Clemenceau became famous in 1918 for his visits to the front, but, because of the calls for greater accountability, he had already begun making such visits from October 1915 as President of the Senate’s Army Commission. Foch’s own freedom of action in Artois was curtailed by the opposing arguments aired in the army group commanders’ meetings, and also by increasing difficulties with Sir John French. These difficulties were exacerbated by the reduced role that Wilson played during the latter half of 1915. In addition, the supply of munitions was still less than Foch recognised as necessary, and the enemy’s new defensive methods placed even greater demands on that supply.