3:00pm 9th August 1914, London.
The meeting had moved onto a Military Appreciation, Sir John French was presenting the position of the major powers as currently understood. Germany was thought to have 6 armies in the west, spread between the push into Belgium, currently somewhat bogged down before Liege, some part resisting the French in Alsace Lorraine with the remainder of its troops on the defensive in the East, it was thought that approximately 4 million men were under arms already or being called up. The German army was principally conscript with soldiers serving a 2- or 3-year term depending on specialisation, with further reserve obligations declining with age. There was a small number of professional soldiers and long service NCO’s, the Army Inspectorate is entirely professional.
The French army has approximately 2 million men under arms now with additional reserves being called up. They were to attack into Alsace Lorraine under plan XVII. The French army like the German consisted largely of conscripts with a 2- or 3-year term of service, this had recently been extended following the German increase in the size of the Army. In addition to a professional General Staff a number of long service regular units like the Foreign Legion existed and they were already being returned to France.
Belgium was the smallest participant, their army consisted of approximately 220,000 men, with a regular army of 120,000 and a reserve of 60,000. Other potential forces included the Garde Civique of almost 50,000 men. They were poorly equipped and not held in any regard. The majority of Belgian military spending had gone into the National Redoubts and Antwerp, Namur and Liege. Leige was currently besieged with its fortresses surrounded and 1 division and 1 brigade trapped inside the lines, they retained radio communications with Antwerp and were reporting that several German attacks had been rebuffed but that bombs and shells had hit civilian areas with heavy casualties. It was thought that sufficient food and ammunition was in place to hold for at least 1 month, General Leman who had narrowly missed being killed by a German shell was enforcing a draconian rationing on the civilian population and pushing ahead with further entrenchment and earth works.
Russia, Austria and Serbia were also covered with the Russian plans to attack East Prussia discussed.
Once the summary of the international situation had been completed the much more detailed discussion of what Britain and its Empire was doing began. General Smith Dorien had just departed for France with his Chief of Staff the just promoted Lieutenant General Henry Wilson, they had completed a series of meetings with the French command and had agreed to deploy GHQ with 4 regular divisions, 1st and 2nd Divisions would form I Corp under the command of Lieutenant General Rawlinson, II corps commanded by Sir Douglas Haig would have the 3rd and 5th divisions. The Cavalry division would be formed from 1st through 4th cavalry brigades and be commanded by Major General Allenby they would come under the command of GHQ.
The Belgian Force, III corps commanded by Lieutenant General Plumer. Would initially consist of 4th and 6th Divisions, with 5th Cavalry Brigade. In addition Churchill had promised the Royal Marine Brigade would be available for service in Belgium.
The Territorials would be mobilised for deployment as immediate reinforcements, with any men who did not undertake the imperial service commitment being replaced by reservists, returnees and other volunteers. It was anticipated that the first 6 Territorial divisions would be available for service by mid-September, with all of them undertaking as much training as could be done. It was accepted that this would place Britain at risk of raids by the Imperial German Navy, but it was felt that it was a risk that must be borne. The idea that German could successfully invade Britain, after defeating the Royal Navy and whilst fighting France and Russia was in the realm of fantasy. No doubt they may be able to land small parties, but it was felt that even with almost all the regular troops and half the territorial army in France there was little they could do. It was suggested that the former militia might be re-embodied in part to guard strategic points and to reassure the civilian population, this would allow for the eventual release of all the territorials and the regulars for service.
The Sub-committee discussed the need to be able to preserve the fighting skills of the regular army and to a lesser extent the territorials, the plan was to comb potential leaders from their ranks as the new volunteers were trained up to replace them.
The meeting continued in this vein as various schemes and plans were discussed.