No other reviewer said anything like that Jim.
There is much written by Hastings available on line.

Why can't you find a real Hastings quote?
Because Jim, your claims are bollocks!

About the British Army in 1914.(Hastings' book is just about the outbreak)

Because Britain neither intended nor expected to be involved in the brewing conflict, its army was not prepared to fight it.
Not the army's fault.

The Germans heavily outnumbered them, and had far more machine guns and artillery.
Not the army's fault.

The British Army were attacked by overwhelming force and had to retreat.
Not the army's fault.

They fought a remarkable fighting withdrawal and just managed to halt the German advance before Paris.
A remarkable achievement of arms.