The best-laid plans . . .
Sir: Churchill may well have predicted the failure of the German offensive (Letters, 19 April), but was this anything other than an inspired belligerent guess? In view of his other strategic thoughts, the Dardanelles or Norway, he can hardly be counted a great `strategic authority', whatever his position in the pantheon of British mythology.
Mr Damant castigates Germany for sacri- ficing long-term political aims for short- term military objectives. Faced with a two- front war of attrition, did she have any other option than to seek a quick decisive victory over France?
France had been quite prepared to sacri- fice Belgian neutrality under the 'Michel' plan, but eventually adopted the aggressive offensive a outrance ideas of General Joffre, with calamitous results.
Finally Mr Damant states that today 'the German nation thinks in an entirely differ- ent way'. This is hardly surprising as all the long-term political aims of 1914 have been achieved: hegemony in Western Europe, whilst the Slav lands of Eastern Europe and Russia cry out for German finance and exploitation. Where the Kaiser failed Kohl has triumphed.
Alice von Schlieffen
57 Great Cumberland Place, London W1
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