"An August Bank Holiday Lark"

In the land war the defenders were in the best position and this meant the Germans. They were happy to stay put, occupying French and Belgian territory. The British and French threw themselves repeatedly at the German trenches and made little impact. New weapons were developed to try and force the dramatic breakthrough that would win the war. One of these, the tank, was to prove important in doing that, but not at first. The war was never going to be won by the side that came up with the best new weapon.

What wins wars is industrial power - steel, coal, iron - and the ability to feed your soldiers and your civilians. During 1918 Germany was unable to do either. Germany lost the war at sea and could no longer supply her population with the food it needed. The population turned against the war and there were food riots in the streets. However, it takes time to win wars this way.

Neil Demarco: Britain and the Great War; Oxford University Press, 1992/2000, page 17