"Commander, it's over. We are finished. My forces have been decimated by the Germans. A large number of them are pouring across the bridge in an unending stream. It is impossible for us to reclaim the bridge." General Desperet's face was a picture of despair.
The 1st Army under General Desperet had launched a fierce counteroffensive against the German forces advancing from the south through the bridge into northern Paris. However, after a full day of battle, the result was catastrophic. Not only had they suffered significant losses, but they had achieved no meaningful progress. The Germans had firmly secured the bridges across the Seine, and they were continuously reinforcing their positions on the northern bank.
For the French forces stationed in the northern part of the city, this was an overwhelming blow.
With the British surrender, the French were now left to fight alone. Their strength barely numbered a third of the German forces. Morale had plummeted to its lowest point. Were it not for their duty to defend the capital, their army would have already collapsed. But, even so, with each passing loss, the inevitability of their breakdown grew more apparent.
General Galiéni nodded solemnly, his face reflecting the same grim reality. He had no illusions about the 1st Army's counterattack; after all, the German forces were simply too strong. Had the Seine remained a formidable barrier, the Germans might have struggled to cross. But with the bridges now in their hands, the river no longer served as an obstacle. Given the Germans' immense fighting power, it was clear to him that defeating them was an almost insurmountable task.
"General Desperet, the situation has become dire. Under the German siege, we cannot hold out for much longer," General Galiéni said, his face ashen.
"Yes, Commander," General Desperet replied, his tone equally bleak.
"I have already ordered the situation to be reported to the President. Until we receive instructions from him, we will continue to resist," General Galiéni stated.
General Desperet nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, the French government was retreating southward. After a brief rest in Orléans, they continued their journey toward Bordeaux. Their plan was to relocate there and await the changing tides of the war.
Upon receiving the telegram from Paris, President Poincaré summoned his cabinet ministers to discuss their next course of action.
"Those damned British! How could they betray us? How could they do this?" President Poincaré's voice trembled with fury. In this war, France and Britain had been the closest of allies, fighting side by side against Germany. The British had sent over a million men to fight in France, and the French navy had likewise dispatched its main fleet to support the British in what would have been the decisive naval clash. Both nations had poured their blood and resources into defeating Germany. But now, at the most crucial moment, an entire British army corps had turned on France, surrendering to the Germans and leaving the French forces in Paris in a perilous situation. It was nothing less than a stab in the back!
"Mr. President, this is not the act of the British government as a whole, but rather the decision of the officers in the British Expeditionary Force's 4th Corps. I believe the British government would never condone such actions. After all, we are still bound by our joint efforts against Germany," Prime Minister René Viviani stated.
"Yes, Mr. President, I agree with Prime Minister Viviani. The British betrayal is a devastating blow to us, but it is likely an isolated incident. Overall, the British are still committed to our alliance in the fight against Germany. Our navies are working together in the most profound cooperation," Minister Alexandre Millerand added.
President Poincaré nodded slowly, convinced of their reasoning. After all, a defeat for France would offer no advantage to Britain. Left to their own devices, they would be no match for Germany. The British surrender must have been the result of a few cowardly officers from the 4th Corps who, in their fear, took it upon themselves to surrender without authorization.
Even so, this treachery had filled Poincaré with intense rage.
"Inform the British of this treason. They must give us an explanation!" President Poincaré said through gritted teeth.
"Yes, Mr. President," the Minister of Foreign Affairs nodded.
"Mr. President, what about the battle for Paris? The British have betrayed us, and allowed the Germans to capture the bridges across the Seine. General Galiéni and his forces are in danger of collapse," Minister Millerand asked.
President Poincaré hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Leave the decision to General Galiéni. If they believe they cannot hold on any longer, they may take whatever action they deem necessary."
"Yes, Mr. President," Minister Millerand replied.
This decision meant that, in the face of overwhelming adversity, General Galiéni and his commanders were free to choose whether to continue resisting or, in the interest of saving as many lives as possible, surrender to the Germans.
Even if General Galiéni and his forces chose surrender, no one would blame them. After all, the situation was dire, and holding on until now had already been an extraordinary feat.
France strongly protested the actions of the British Expeditionary Force's 4th Corps, and the British government, understandably, was outraged. The British had hoped to use the French to delay the Germans and weaken their forces. But now, with their betrayal, the French had been left vulnerable. It was no wonder they were furious.
The British government assured France that this was an isolated incident and that Britain, like France, was committed to continuing the fight against Germany. To appease the French, the British government even promised to put General Allenby on trial. Of course, as Allenby was now in a German prisoner of war camp, the trial would be in absentia, but it was a gesture nonetheless. In the end, the British military court sentenced Allenby to death by hanging, though the sentence was never carried out.
Meanwhile, the German assault on Paris grew ever more intense. After three days of fierce combat, the French forces, devastated and despondent, were forced to surrender. General Galiéni, the commander of the Paris garrison, chose to end his life with a gunshot.