advance from the Marne to the Aisne. Unfortunately, I am afraid
the Germans will be more successful than we were on that
occasion--for we only drove them back 20 or 30 miles, but the
Germans now seem to be menacing two great cities, half a dozen
first-class fortresses, and four vital railway lines. There is no
doubt that they, at least, are not playing at war. And to think
that it should be Wales that may be half-crippling the Navy when
we are matched with such a foe! If the Navy fails, then Heaven
help us! I don't think we can lose even now, but I doubt now if
Germany can lose. It may be 1793-1815 over again!

Don't imagine that economics end war. Nations can easily do
without trade if they will. To win a war, in ninety-nine cases
out of a hundred, you have to beat the enemy's forces decisively
in the field and put large bodies of his troops permanently out
of action, or capture important tracts of territory such as corn
land or mining districts, without which he cannot wage the war.
Nothing has done us more harm than all this talk about
"attrition." People say, "Oh, it's all right, we can strangle
Germany by means of our Navy, and only time is wanted." As a
matter of fact, Germany is so well prepared by environment,
history, and her own endeavours for such a war that were Berlin
itself in our hands, I would not like to say we should have won.
Berlin has in the past been entered by the enemy, and yet the
Germans have defeated their foes. Look at Frederick the Great--he
won his wars with half his own country in the enemy's hands. Make
no mistake, we shall have to cut the German Army to pieces if we
are to win. And we shall not succeed, at least not for any
practical purpose, unless we put every man into his right place
to win the war. We want the shell-makers at home, the soldiers in
the field, the mere politician on the scrap-heap, and capable men
at the head of affairs. There must be no more of this muddling
War Office policy, no more of this defective control of vital
industries and these scandalous deficiencies in equipment.

WITH THE 9th CAVALRY BRIGADE

On July 27, 1915, Paul Jones left Waterloo Station for service abroad.
Shortly after his arrival in France he was ordered to proceed to the
Headquarters of the 9th Cavalry Brigade (1st Cavalry Divisi