"yous smokscreen in putting up French as a good leader when he had nothing whatever to do with what was being said."

Jom could you please give us that again in English.

In 1914 French (That is General Sir John French) handled the minute BEF very well as they were attacked by the extreme right of the German offensive through Belgium. At times outnumbered 3:1 he delayed the German advance, causing them considerable casualties and succeeded in over stretching them to such an extent that a gap opened up that the French Army took advantage of and that resulted in the Battle of the Marne which was a victory for the Entente Powers -it also signaled the end to any prospect of a rapid victory in the west for the Germans and the death of the Schlieffen Plan. In doing all this French kept the BEF intact and in the field as a fighting unit.

In 1915 however in offensive operations he proved to be too timid and on at least two occasions his handling of the reserve prevented a breakthrough occurring - As a consequence of this he was replaced in December 1915 and Haig took over.