sentences:  The first of these, Operation Michael in March 1918, threatened to split the British and French forces apart, and, after Pétain had threatened to retreat on Paris, the Doullens Conference was called.Just prior to the main meeting, Prime Minister Clemenceau claimed he heard Pétain say ""les Allemands battront les Anglais en rase campagne, après quoi ils nous battront aussi"" ("the Germans will beat the English (sic) in open country, then they'll beat us as well").He reported this conversation to President Poincaré, adding "surely a general should not speak or think like that?"