The conflict between national assemblies and army high commands was common feature of the political landscape of most belligerent countries during the first world war. There were, of course, variations to this conflict, the power balance between parliaments, governments and military commands differed from country to country. After having conceded powers to the executive branch and having exercised restraint over the military handling of the war, due to the general belief that the war would be national assemblies began to reassert their authority. The reason was simple military stagnation and a succession of failed offensives led parliamentarians to attempt to regain control of the war effort, to reform it through criticism and new ideas. Clemenceau's witticism, 'War is too serious a business to to the Generals', captures this new mood perfectly...