Paris City Hall, the Prime Minister's office was filled with smoke.
Briand and Clemenceau held cigars between their fingers, silently reading the newly delivered newspaper.
Charles in Mezieres had not reported any of his actions to Paris, and if there were reports, they were delayed, sometimes by hours, sometimes by days.
Therefore, they had to rely on the newspaper to get the latest information on the war.
"It's truly ironic," Clemenceau thought this was an insult to the parliament and government: "Doesn't the military know they need the parliament and government's consent to fight? But now we don't even know what's happening on the frontline!"
"It's wartime now, your excellency," Briand replied helplessly: "If decisions still require parliament and government approval during wartime, the only thing we will gain is failure, and a complete failure at that."
These weren't Briand's words but suggestions from Gallieni, Petain, and Foch standing on the same line.
