The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of 12)

f Belgium-with the conquest of France as its ultimate goal. Six mighty armies stood ready for the great invasion. Their estimated total was 1,200,000 men. Suprem

ist of 1870, and his name possibly appealed as of ha

and was regarded as an able infantry leader. His part was to enter Belgium at its northern triangle, which projects between Holland and Germany, occupy Liege, deploy on the great central plains of Belgium, then sweep toward

s planned down the valleys of the Ourthe and Vesdre to a junction with Von Kluck at Liege, then a march by the Meus

urg. This was performed, after a somewhat dramatic protest by the youthful Grand Duchess, who placed her motor car across the bridge by which the Germans entered her internationally guaranteed independent state. The German pretext was that since Luxemburg railways were German controlled,

ssian Guards he bore a very high military reputation. For the time being General von Heeringen's part was to

l in their march on Paris, a vigorous advance of the center through the Ardennes for the same destination, and readiness for battle by the Sixth Army for a

AL MAP

resistance to passage through their territory-a firm refusal had been delivered at the eleventh hour. The vanguard was thrown forward from Von Kluck's army at Aix, to b

e line reached Visé, situated on the Meuse north of Liege and close to the Dutch frontier. Here an engagement took place with a Belgian guard, w

isé, the way was clear for Von Kluck's main army to concentrate on Belgian territory. By nightfall,

THE FRANCO-G