[Peter Libra]

I would like to acknowledge your replies. Not too often that I have three responses. I had to do some reading on the Schlieffen Plan. Good for the mind at my time of life.

On a lighter note I would like to quote a music hall song following the reluctance of British manhood to break down doors. This of the recruiting offices. By the way,Some cunning recruiting sergeants let 16 year olds lie and signed them in as of military age. Got a bonus for a head count. Some boys shot for "cowardice" later. Crying in the trench and refusing to go on.

Take my muvver, take my farver, take my sistah and my bruvver.
But for Gawd's Sake, don't take me!

London accent added.

[Eric Pode of Croydon]

FYI: two great recent books on WWI which have greatly influenced my view:

The Pity of War - Niall Ferguson

To End All Wars - Adam Hochschild

Also available on YouTube - the best series about the war, made back in the early '60s with the contributions of many veterans:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwn22WhrrUFMg65XgPicFBfYgHj7Xpcdn