Dunkirk, British Expeditionary Force Command.
Haig returned from the Somme front to report to Kitchener.
Normally, the two masters and disciples would open a bottle of red wine and chat over it when they met, but this time, they lost interest. They sat in front of the fireplace in unison, staring at the flickering flames, seemingly unable to bear the harsh winter of France.
After a long time, Kitchener asked in a muffled voice, "The situation is bad, isn't it?"
Haig struggled to respond, "We have suffered nearly 300,000 casualties, but the front line has only advanced less than a mile."
Another dreadful silence ensued.
Neither of them wanted to say it out loud, but both were comparing in their minds: Shire advanced 5 kilometers with just over a thousand casualties, a remarkably dazzling achievement.
"How's the situation with the ANZAC?" Kitchener asked.
Compared to front-line casualties, Kitchener was more concerned about the attitude of the colonial troops.
