Status Updates From The Guns of August Publishe...

Reading again, after maybe ten years, for my book club.

Everyone was sick of sir John French but the English lacked leaders to replace him. Due to this he was babied when he needed a tighter leash

Meanwhile Germany had to pull troops of the eastern line to deal with Russia who was making steady progress towards Berlin

Joffre while making progress was still in a poor situation. They had a lack of men and needed to shift reserve troops around to ensure full front lines. This led to disgruntled officers who needed to change tactics quickly.

Keitchener, the British minister of war goes to France

Sir John French was a coward. He retired his men to safety while they were ready to fight. Claiming untruths that made his position seem reasonable but everyone from the French to his own government did not believe.
This was happening as French troops actually had the Germans on the back foot. Who knows what the results of cooperation would have been but surely it would have been decisive