In 1906 he was put in command of a cavalry regiment and on 24 June 1911 of 4th Dragoon Brigade, with whom he set off at the start of the First World War in August 1914. He was next put in command of 7th Cavalry Division on 25 August that year but was quickly promoted to head 33rd Army Corps on 20 September. A month later, on 20 October, he was put in command of all French troops in Belgium, then on 16 November of 8th Army. He commanded 8th Army until 2 April 1915, when he was transferred to command 10th Army, which he led during the Battle of La Bassée from 10 October – 2 November 1914, the Second Battle of Artois ( May–July 1915) and the Third Battle of Artois from September–October 1915.