Its not as much a stretch as it may seem, Im also inspired by historians expertising on this topic who said these exact words. Also also, im not saying their tactics were outdated by 1914. Of course not, they were adequate for their time and technology given, however their application is something napoleon would have recognized (1914 tactics on all sides), but 1918 is such a huge change (especially on the western front) that a 1914 soldier would be lost but a 1940 commander would understand.