Chapter 328: The Steel Helmet
The parliamentary inquiry concluded with a series of trivial and rather absurd questions, like:
"Colonel, do you consider your military expertise superior to that of Foch and Pétain?" "If you believe their theories are flawed, how do you explain their successes on the battlefield?" "Do you intend to exploit your military acumen for personal gain within your businesses?"
Charles answered each question smoothly:
"This isn't about military genius, gentlemen. We're all finding our way in this war, and I certainly don't presume to surpass their skills." "Different perspectives are natural, and which theory is right shouldn't be for me to judge. It should be judged by the battlefield, by facts, and by the soldiers themselves. This is crucial, as their lives are at stake—they deserve a say in the tactics we choose." "My businesses? I am not seeking benefits for myself, gentlemen. I'm working for the welfare of the French people!"
Charles's responses were deliberately ambiguous. He knew the purpose of the questions wasn't to gain clarity on his views. The seasoned parliamentarians understood well that military theories must be tested in battle to be validated, rendering any hypothetical debate pointless.
But they had still posed the questions—to trap Charles into offending both Foch and Pétain. Foch, the Deputy Chief of Staff and Northern Army Group Commander, wielded less official power than Joffre, yet his aggressive strategies influenced nearly every division in France. Meanwhile, though Pétain was still a relatively low-ranking officer, the trench warfare of WWI perfectly suited his defensive theories, and his successful track record had recently earned him quick promotions. He had risen to brigadier general and then to major general in just a few months and was now commanding the Thirty-Third Corps.
Alienating both Foch and Pétain would gain Charles no allies and would make him appear reckless and arrogant. And as for whether Charles would use his military talent for personal gain, the lawmakers aimed to portray him as a profiteering arms dealer who sought to control the government.
Of course, Charles's actual goals were much grander—but he wasn't about to say that out loud, knowing that even the slightest slip-up would lead to media frenzy and ruin.
Indeed, Charles thought to himself, this felt like a war of words. Each question was a trap, and each answer a potential misstep. The capitalists were watching his every word, hoping to magnify the tiniest error and drag his reputation down. Fortunately, he knew how to respond—vaguely, in circles, always close enough to an answer without saying anything definitive.
…
After finally escaping the relentless questions, Charles returned to the Paris Defense Command, just a short distance from the parliament. General Gallieni seemed to be waiting for him. As soon as Charles appeared in the hallway, Gallieni looked him over, smirking.
"You seemed to manage well in there, Colonel," Gallieni said. "I underestimated you!"
"Not quite," Charles replied, exhausted. "It felt more grueling than an actual battle."
He wasn't exaggerating; despite the chilly April air, he had left the parliament drenched in sweat.
"They didn't tell me the outcome, General," Charles continued. "Is the proposal accepted, or not? No one said a word."
"Did you expect an answer right away?" Gallieni asked, laughing as if Charles had missed an obvious joke. "It could take them days, or even longer, to come to a conclusion. And even if they approve it, the bill must still go to the Senate, which can reject it."
"If the Senate rejects it, does that end the matter?" Charles asked.
"No." Gallieni shook his head. "The House can still put it to a vote. If the Senate rejects it three times, the House can pass it unilaterally on the fourth attempt. The Senate's 'rejection' is merely a stalling tactic. In the end, the House always has the final say if they insist long enough."
Charles understood: the Senate's power to "reject" was just a way to drag things out. The House had ultimate control, though it was often a matter of patience. No wonder the process felt so cumbersome. The opposing interests of the two houses bogged down progress with constant wrangling and obstacles.
Take the uniform change, for instance—by the time these bureaucratic steps were completed, it could be six months or even a year later, and any decision might come far too late to matter.
"That's why we need the War Procurement Ordinance," Gallieni explained. "It allows us to bypass parliamentary delays for essential equipment. But changing the uniforms goes beyond simple procurement."
Charles nodded in agreement, recalling the lawmakers' objections. They had tied France's national pride and military spirit to those vibrant red pants and caps, as if those alone could inspire soldiers to charge forward.
His thoughts shifted to the Ottomans and their red fezzes, wondering if their bravery, too, was supposed to stem from the psychological effect of the color red. The very idea seemed absurd.
Then a thought crossed his mind—what about helmets? Turning to Gallieni, he asked, "General, if a uniform change is too sensitive to fall under the War Procurement Ordinance, what about issuing steel helmets?"
"Helmets?" Gallieni asked, surprised. "Do you think they're useful?"
At that time, helmets weren't widely used. Many thought they couldn't stop a bullet and thus were seen as wasteful or unnecessarily burdensome for soldiers.
But that assumption was mistaken.
"Absolutely useful, General," Charles replied. "On the battlefield, it's not just bullets that injure soldiers, but also shrapnel and even rocks kicked up by artillery blasts."
In fact, helmets were capable of deflecting bullets—at least those that didn't strike dead-center. A helmet's curved surface allowed many shots to glance off, just like tank armor deflected shells.
After a moment of thought, Gallieni nodded. "If you believe it's worth pursuing, go ahead. Not replacing the caps shouldn't raise the same resistance."
"Consider producing a batch for a trial run. Let's see how soldiers respond to them in combat. If they prove useful, parliament won't be able to argue."
Once their effectiveness was evident, anyone attempting to block the distribution of helmets would essentially be showing a disregard for the lives of soldiers on the front.
Charles grinned confidently. "Yes, sir!"
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