538    THE PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE, 1919, VOLUME V


Advancing from this base line towards Weimar and Berlin, the army
would penetrate a zone very favourable to its advance, as its flanks
would rest to the north on the River Lippe and to the South on the
River Main. This zone was so advantageous for the advance that
the enemy might be expected to capitulate before the armies reached
their objective. Further, by advancing from the Rhine along the
valley of the Ruhr, the result would be achieved of considerably re-
ducing the enemy's financial resources. Advancing from the Rhine
by the valley of the Main, the armies of the Allied and Associated
Powers would cut Germany off from Bavaria, and, in addition, would
be in a position to join hands with the Czecho-Slovaks. This was a
perfectly feasible and not dangerous operation, and might achieve
results without bringing the operations to a conclusion. These lines
of advance would take the Allied Armies into the heart of the Ger-
man Government. In reply to M. Clemenceau, he said that he
envisaged action by the Czechs, which would be combined.
GENERAL WEYGAND, in reply to Mr. Lloyd George, said that the
Czechs had 3 complete divisions formed, but these were now disposed
along the Hungarian frontier. They had also several brigades, but
a good deal of organisation would be required.
MARSHAL FocH said that information on this point had been asked
for. He then explained his plan by reference to a large map. He
added one advantage to those he had already given, namely, that if,
for any reason, the march had to be stopped, a line could be established
on the River Weser parallel to the Rhine where the armies could rest
in conditions very similar to those prevailing on the Rhine. In reply
to President Wilson, he said there were no fortified places on the way
and that neither Weimar nor Berlin were seriously fortified. In reply
to Mr. Lloyd George he said that he certainly contemplated action
by Polish troops which were already in occupation of Posen. In reply
to President Wilson, he said that the nominal strength of the German
forces was 450,000 men, but they were disarmed and dispersed and
practically Germany could offer no resistance at all. In reply to Mr.
Lloyd George, he added that he did not contemplate action by sea,
as this was not feasible with modern artillery. He summed up by
saying that, with 8 days' warning, he was prepared and was in accord
with the various Commanders-in-Chief for an advance with incon-
testable superiority of forces and with his flanks secured. He would
undertake to cut off Bavaria from Germany.
M. CLEmENCEAU asked whether he anticipated any danger from the
mass of the working population.
MARSHAL FOCH said mainly in regard to their feeding.
M. CLEMENCEAU alluded to Marshal Foch's request for 8 days'
warning. This might be difficult for the Governments to give. He