He was a French First World War general. At the outbreak of World War I he served as chief-of-staff to VI Corps. In October 1914, he was promoted brigadier, and in January 1915 was transferred as chief-of-staff to the First Army. On August 3, 1915, he took over command of the 53rd Infantry Division, and later (March 1916) promoted a temporary General of Division and appointed to command XXXVIII Army Corps. Ten days later he was placed in command of Tenth Army. On June 22, 1916, he was confirmed in his rank as General of Division. He commanded Tenth Army during the Battle of the Somme, and was then promoted to command a new Army Group formed behind the centre for the exploitation of the victory counted upon in General Nivelle's Aisne scheme. He was involved very deeply in the controversies which centered on that scheme both before and after that offensive. It was principally his criticisms that initiated the internal crisis, and led to the council of war, in which, however, he seems not to have followed up his objections. He also had strained relations with his subordinate Mangin as well as with Nivelle. Mangin sought afterwards to saddle him with part of the responsibility for the relative failure of the offensive. After his Army Group had been broken up he was demoted back to command of an Army. He briefly commanded First Army, then Fifth Army for a year, until June 1918, before being removed after the near debacle of the Third Battle of the Aisne. He was made a commander of the Legion of Honor on September 30, 1916.
He was a French First World War general. At the outbreak of World War I he served as chief-of-staff to VI Corps. In October 1914, he was promoted brigadier, and in January 1915 was transferred as chief-of-staff to the First Army. On August 3, 1915, he took over command of the 53rd Infantry Division, and later (March 1916) promoted a temporary General of Division and appointed to command XXXVIII Army Corps. Ten days later he was placed in command of Tenth Army. On June 22, 1916, he was confirmed in his rank as General of Division. He commanded Tenth Army during the Battle of the Somme, and was then promoted to command a new Army Group formed behind the centre for the exploitation of the victory counted upon in General Nivelle's Aisne scheme. He was involved very deeply in the controversies which centered on that scheme both before and after that offensive. It was principally his criticisms that initiated the internal crisis, and led to the council of war, in which, however, he seems not to have followed up his objections. He also had strained relations with his subordinate Mangin as well as with Nivelle. Mangin sought afterwards to saddle him with part of the responsibility for the relative failure of the offensive. After his Army Group had been broken up he was demoted back to command of an Army. He briefly commanded First Army, then Fifth Army for a year, until June 1918, before being removed after the near debacle of the Third Battle of the Aisne. He was made a commander of the Legion of Honor on September 30, 1916.
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