 : True but the big French success was short-lived. The BEF took the record for a one-day advance at Arras the following April, suggesting that British inferiority was rapidly remedied (another reason for me to prefer the 'equipment curve' iterpretation). The French were reduced to grinding despite their better equipment, training and experience so this resembles most western front offensives where the most visible changes occurred in the first few days. I'm suspicious of Ll-G as I think he was fabricating a false alibi over the costs even as he tried to take credit for the victory of 1918.  