"I think that French soldiers were the first ones to experience, in August 1914, a new sort of war – a new efficiency of machine guns and new efficiency of artillery.

"And they were the first ones discovering this novelty in European history, this new efficiency of war.

"What is very strange is that their previous frame of mind about war didn't change immediately. And this spirit of offensive of the French army was still alive in the beginning of September, and that is the reason why the French troops were still able to resist on the Marne, and to win the victory of the Marne."