Edmonds wrote that it had been a mistake to assume that second line troops were sufficient to hold fortifications and that the effect on recruits and over-aged reservists of being subjected to heavy artillery-fire, which destroyed "impregnable" defences as the field forces retreated to safety, had a deleterious effect on morale, which could only be resisted by first-class troops.
Edmonds skrev, at det havde været en fejl at antage at 2. rangs tropper var tilstrækkelige til at holde befæstningerne og at moralen blandt rekrutter og gamle reservister, når de blev udsat for kraftig artilleribeskydning, som knuste "uigennemtrængelige" stillinger, mens felthæren trak sig tilbage i sikkerhed havde en ødelæggende effekt på moralen, som kun kunne modstås af førsteklasses tropper.