Chapter 543: Guiding Public Opinion
The public reaction was far more intense than what Tignani had calmly described.
The citizens of Paris were already immersed in a wave of celebration. Despite entering an era of severe shortages, people were willingly emptying their pockets just to buy a glass of strong spirits on the streets, congratulating each other excitedly.
The British army had lost hundreds of thousands at the Somme without gaining a single inch, yet Charles's forces effortlessly conquered Namur—a fortress previously thought impenetrable.
Once again, France had surpassed Britain!
"I think the British army should be commanded by Charles—they clearly have no idea how to fight!"
"Yes, the era has changed. This is the age of tanks, yet the British stubbornly cling to cavalry charges—it's utterly foolish."
"It's worse than foolish—it's criminal! They're wasting soldiers' lives. Hundreds of thousands of casualties in half a month—they'll soon be completely wiped out!"
"Quiet! Isn't that exactly what we want?"
Laughter erupted among the crowd, swelling into a surge of national pride.
People rarely mentioned Nivelle's failure directly—perhaps because they considered him a national disgrace. They deliberately avoided or downplayed the topic altogether.
But newspaper coverage took an entirely different angle.
The Petit Journal openly mocked Nivelle with biting satire:
"We must give General Nivelle the credit he deserves. He showed great foresight! Perhaps, contrary to popular belief, he wasn't attempting to destroy Charles under British instructions."
"After all, the facts clearly prove Namur couldn't possibly have posed any risk to Charles—it fell after just 35 hours!"
"We've all misjudged Nivelle! In fact, he's the one who truly understood Charles's capability—such wisdom in deploying talented generals!"
This style of reporting, though presented in a humorous and sarcastic tone, was devastatingly effective precisely because it spread quickly among the populace as a joke.
The Journal of Merit, a military-focused newspaper, maintained a neutral, factual stance, meticulously analyzing the equipment Charles employed at Namur:
"In this battle, Charles deployed four previously unseen new weapons."
"The first was rocket artillery, which decisively broke through the German blockade enforced by their 105mm howitzers. This overwhelming victory was unprecedented in artillery warfare history."
"The second was the armored bridging vehicle, capable of laying a steel bridge across anti-tank ditches in as little as seven minutes, sufficient to support tanks and infantry."
"The third was the submachine gun, a specialized close-quarters firearm developed by Charles himself, featuring an astonishing 71-round drum magazine. In close combat, it proved unmatched."
"The fourth was not exactly a new invention but rather a modified hunting shotgun. Although many previously doubted its battlefield effectiveness, after Charles's improvements, it became devastatingly effective for assaulting enemy trenches."
Seemingly impartial, these analyses actually served as highly effective advertisements—every word generated business.
Detailed explanations were provided for each weapon's tactical applications, except for rocket artillery.
The rocket artillery remained under strict secrecy. No photos were published, and it was not offered for sale. This secrecy was essential since its detailed operational specifications, if leaked, could allow the Germans to develop effective countermeasures.
The advertising proved extremely successful. Immediately upon publication, orders poured into the Saint-Étienne Armaments Factory like snowflakes.
Buyers included Britain, America, Italy, and Russia.
Russia alone ordered ten thousand submachine guns at once. According to reports, upon seeing the images and specifications, the Tsar exclaimed excitedly: "This is exactly the weapon we've been waiting for! It's practically custom-made for Russia—even aesthetically, it's perfect for us!"
The Petit Parisien bluntly criticized the high command:
"This battle clearly exposes the incompetence of our Commander-in-Chief. We must seriously ask ourselves: After dismissing Joffre, why did we replace him with yet another incompetent general? Is it truly so difficult to appoint a commander who actually knows how to fight and lead?"
Le Matin directly held Nivelle responsible:
"There is no doubt General Nivelle is accountable for the tragedy at the Somme. He promised our soldiers victory within days, assuring them they would soon return home triumphant. Yet weeks have passed with nothing to show but staggering casualties and no progress."
Other newspapers also piled criticism onto Nivelle, with some radical voices going further, warning that allowing Nivelle to remain Commander-in-Chief was dangerous. He wouldn't merely cost soldiers their lives—he might actively seek to harm Charles further!
…
In the small town of Davaz, Camille's first task each morning had previously been preparing breakfast.
But lately, her morning routine had changed. She now had a habit of immediately leaving home to buy various newspapers, eager to discover the latest news concerning Charles.
If time ran short, she simply offered Deyoca a glass of milk and some bread.
This particular morning, however, when Deyoca descended the stairs, he discovered even milk was missing. Camille sat frozen at the dining table, intently flipping through multiple newspapers. Her face was pale, brows tightly knit with worry.
Seeing Deyoca, Camille held up the newspaper anxiously:
"I just don't understand—why are there so many people plotting against Charles?"
"And the Commander-in-Chief himself—why would he act this way?"
"Hasn't Charles consistently delivered victories for France?"
Deyoca shook his head helplessly, sighing, "Some things aren't as simple as they appear, Camille."
"I know I don't fully understand!" Camille's voice trembled with emotion. "But Charles saved their lives from the moment he protected Paris. Yet instead of gratitude, they plot against him. Can such a person really remain France's Commander-in-Chief, entrusted with leading our soldiers into battle?"
Deyoca had no answer—Camille spoke the simple truth.
Quietly entering the kitchen, he prepared a cup of instant coffee to accompany his bread.
Since Camille began obsessively collecting newspapers, milk had frequently been absent from breakfast, forcing him to stock up on instant coffee as a substitute.
"We have to do something," Camille declared suddenly. "Some people suggested organizing a protest—"
Deyoca, mid-sip, nearly choked on his coffee. "Absolutely not! You mustn't do that!"
"Why not?" Camille countered stubbornly. "I can't just sit by while they continue harming Charles!"
"Because," Deyoca explained calmly, pushing the stack of newspapers toward her, "the real threat to Charles comes from the British."
"Do you understand why these newspapers focus exclusively on criticizing Nivelle? It's because the British are desperately trying to shift blame onto him, diverting attention from their own responsibility."
Camille sat stunned, eyes wide with shock.
She realized suddenly how little she knew, how superficially she'd understood these matters.
And now, hearing clearly that among those trying to harm Charles were the British themselves—France's supposed allies—left her utterly horrified.
That poor child, she thought bitterly. He has suffered far too much already!
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