“I have brought them here,” said General Pershing, “in order that they may hear what I have to say, for it may be that I shall have need of them to prove to you the correctness of my views.”
“You need make no apology for their presence, General,” said Marshal Foch.
“Very well, sir,” returned General Pershing. “I shall proceed.”
Every ear in the room was strained to catch the next few words of the American commander, for there was not a man in the room who did not realize that it must have been a matter of prime importance thus to bring the three great commanders together. It is probable that most of the American officers present had a general idea of what General Pershing was about to propose; but neither the British nor French commanders or members of their staffs had had an inkling of it. Hal and Chester listened eagerly for General Pershing’s next words.
“I want to ask you, gentlemen,” said General Pershing quietly, toying with a paperweight on the table as he spoke, “whether you do not think we have remained passive long enough—whether it is not, in your opinion, time that we assumed the offensive rather than to wait until the enemy brings the fight to us?”
Marshal Foch and Marshal Haig were on their feet in a moment. Marshal Haig spoke first.
“You mean that you would have us attack at once?” he asked.
“I do, sir,” returned General Pershing grimly.
There was an audible catching of breaths throughout the room. Marshal Foch was silent a full moment. Then he said:
“We haven’t the men, general.”