The Wonder of War on Land

Destiny has s

at Le Grand Couronne de Nancy (Hill-Crest of Nancy), the defeat which duped the

ve, safely arrived in Paris, were sitting at the window of a tiny room,

to relegate both Croquier and Horace from the front, though they had begged to be allowed to stay. They had been in P

the quarter where they lived, the hunchback had already become a familiar figure, and boys tramped up the stairs in the evening with rats and mice for the eagle's dinner. Under the agile

devotion that were worthy of its best traditions. The removal of the government to Bordeaux, two days before, had shown the people how narrow was the margin of safety by which P

veteran's prophecy that the strategic diamond would be pressed b

. "It must rebound now, or smash. And the Germans

mise to Aunt Abigail, but he did not go to see the American minister, feeling sure that he would be sent back to America. He did not want t

s field experience and the veteran's lessons on strategy, when with the guns back of Givet, had given him an insight which ena

reatest battle of modern times, known as "The Battles of the Marne," the series of victories which saved France. Croquier, who knew t

eirs, they'll soon find themselves in a pickle for the lack of that chief need of a modern army-a short, strong

usly. He was not lik

elgium. It's a long way, and wastes a lot of men to hold it. There is, though, a good railway line from Metz, which is six times as short as the line they'

"The War of

n a Stra

les, tried to break its mechanism, but fail

re," asked Horace, "if th

rdun to the north. Belfort and Epinal are in difficult, mountainous country, further away from Paris and less valuable for railway purposes. It would be bad strategy, too, to break through at the southern fort and leave the n

gust 20 one of our air scouts came back with the news that there was a huge German army gathering at Metz. On August 21, five army corps were hurled on our flank. We were surprised, partly surrounded and crumpled up. The Boches got thousands of prisoners and scores of gun

c value. It mistakenly convinced the German High Command that France had concentrated the larger part of her armies on the fr

of Nancy. It was no use to take the city unless the heights were captured. If, however, the Germans took Le Grand Couro

masses of troops against artillery. They hadn't any idea, either, of the powers of our 'Soixante-Quinze.' For a week they di

Von Heeringen knew that further attack was hopeless. Two days later, however, the Kaiser was seen in person on the hills o

strength at this point and which caused them to send their heaviest re?nforcements on the eastern e

h smashed us at Charleroi, then," s

clash between German and French strategy. The diamond, now, has

, "it looks like a

st base.' Then the Fourth and Fifth French armies are the operative corner or 'third base,' while the great armies of reserve, under General Foch, sw

d works out according to French ideas, we oug

sh that I could help in the actual fighting. But, I su

ey were about to separate for th

the Fifth Army, with more than two thirds of its men los

o pick up the first news of the day. When he returned to the frugal br

that the Sixth Army, under Manoury, is

about the Sixth Army," sa

etails of the divisions

y weak army," c

posed to be a covering army, so far as I can make

on Kluck surrou

back shoo

r that's the circumference of the advance trenches beyond the outer fortifications of the city-and to

to do the same thing that Le Grand Couronne did-to make the Germans think our li

as to weaken the German o

find out until weeks, sometimes months, afterward. A generalissimo never l

y, Horace set out to put into effect a resolut

sit at home idle whe

markets were choked with the vast stores of supplies being hurried in for use in the event of a siege. Enormous herds of cattle w

for distant points of safety, with their goods piled into the bullock carts of the peasant, the pony carriages of the rich, or e

were t

ored mightily with the supplies being b

were t

p barbed wire entanglements or dynamiting houses in th

who was engaged in his own affairs instead of those of hi

which he had cleaned and oiled and put in perfect shape during his days of inaction, and whizzed up to the headquarters

ore whom he was brought. He showed the paper "on special service" which had been giv

ere was no English

nto an inner room and returned a moment later. "Take

ed with refugees. Signs of the French high-spiritedne

after my vis

the difference in time between Franc

t German wa

f the houses, the streets were empty. The Sorbonne glowered upon streets of empty shops. The

eal control of traffic, b

from Gener

as

lt which cried aloud in strident ton

the men

ld clothes to wear. The literary scholar had risen from his books to tear his hands in stretching barbed wire with the keeper of a dive for his companion. The consumptive ca

were the wo

eside the peasant mothers of the outer suburbs and the midin

ng as one Frenchman or one Frenchwoman was left alive, the Germans would not t

his dispatc

igure digging near by, spoke to him

We shall bite their heads off. Those boches are going to put themselv

ted a few days before by Colonel Doury. When ordered to resist

l, we wil

to his soldi

now, my boys, here is

o, when re?nforcements reached him and asked whether a cert

pointed to his lone machine-

hen his hand and drum were shot away, sang "Rat-tat-a-tat!" at the top o

the depth of the hunchback's saying that victory lies in the spirit of men, not in its machinery. He

der, especially at the front where military discipline prevailed, he was invaluable in the voluntary work of aiding t

line, therefore, could not drive bodily forward to the southwest, as apparently had been

Couronne, he was compelled to pivot his line on the Marne, so that it faced southeast. This maneuver, re

cause of the strength of Verdun and because of the defeat at Nancy. The flanking movement, therefore, must be made in the west. This could only be done by driving a wedge down betw

t Allied victories, but Joffre preferred to lose the advantage of following up these victories for the greater advantage of falling back strategically in good order. Moreover, the forts of Maubeuge still held

h on the morrow and pierce the gap, Manoury determined to force the issue. He launched his small and war-wearied army against the

advantage when great mobility was not needed, as, for example, in defense of the crossings of a stream. The other was Von Kluck's discomfiting discov

n excellent opportunity to cut them up, but the British Field Marshal had drawn his troops into cover of the forests and he let the scouts go by. A courier, detached from time to time, took to Von Kluck the wel

d that his reserves were threatened and his own flank was in danger. His men had marched all day. A

rigade to battalion headquarters, as soon as these positions are determined for the night. This is done from cable wagons and the Signal Corps men are so deft that the cable can be laid as fast as horses can canter. At about three o'clock in the morning, if headquarters

ce got up, put on the dead man's uniform, trundled out his

ealized that grave news must have come in on the

hat we've been

ddresses wa

'phones; probably shut up at night. Find some one, any one, every one! Rout them

ace, already in the s

ovements

re speeding, driven by half-awake chauffeurs. All night long, troops had reached Paris by train. They were needed at Meaux, forty miles from Paris, where Manoury wa

nd on a taxicab. The motor-busses carried sixty and seventy, men hanging on by the straps of their rifles, jammed into window frames. They looked like insects on a plant. Inside they were packed like herrings in a cask.

"Panorama de

m no Danger

the Signal Corps: broken telephone and telegraph

ward to meet the surprisingly strong shock of Manoury. The unsuspecting cavalry were awaiting orders to pursue either the Fifth or Sixth French armies, whichever one Von Kluck should decide to smash. They were dismounted and resting, when suddenly the western woods belched flame. The Briti

ought with great courage, at several places forcing the Germans ba

her, deliberately, allowed his line to sag. This was intended as a lure to lead the Germans on, in the hope that Manoury would be able to flank

Army was driven back, but fighting heavily, with all its reserves in action, Von Kluck devoting only a part of his army to the frontal attack, while one whole army corps commenced to encircle the flank. On Wednesday the disaster was almost complete. Even as late as t

d the mor

rought blank

, saw Nanteuil abandoned by the Ge

ad hap

ad hap

" Foch had said once, when talking of s

asked, "that the ene

make

ot without knowledge of his marvelous tactical ability that the generali

should risk annihilation. Why? That, as Horace saw long afterward, was a

e of Von Kluck's right wing to do it. The British were advancing steadily (though so slowly that it imperiled the whole plan) on Von Kluck's left wing

ame army they had routed at Charleroi, esteemed it lightly. But on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, it steadily drove Von Buelow back, crossing the Marne and holding the bridgeheads. In this it was helped by the British heavy ar

an Guard, consisting of one entire army corps. Foch had three army corps, nearly all fresh troops, but he would not use them all. Von Hausen and the Prussian Guard attacked savagely and heavily. Foch allow

ine at Foch's right wing. A bad gap had been formed because Langle de Cary, on the left wing of the Fourth Army, ha

world. As the victory hangs on a curious battle formation which developed that afternoon of Wednesday, September 9

o the north and west to do so. His left wing was in momentary danger of attack

ighting in fine fettle, aided by the British heavy artillery. This army was strong enough to lend a

but his right wing had been thrust ten miles out of the line by Von Hausen's drive. Von Hausen was therefore exert

and westward, were being dragged away from the Prussian G

ry dangerous point, just where the edge of the plateau

iercing of Foch's line was only a matter of hours. In any case, Von Hausen was as certain

the Germans triumphantly. All through that sultry afternoon, while the skies grew blacker and blacker and the thunder rumbled in the distance, the 42nd Division waited with piled arms, hearing the sound

eet were slipping, slipping, slipping

ted and eager, received its long-awaited orders. It was bidden advance through the pine woods and burst upon the Prussian Guards, now forming a thi

the terrific roar of the artillery. Unnumbered batteries of the ever-potent and death-dealing "Soixante-Quinze" came galloping. As an avalanche sweeps away sapling

e line. The gap widened, broke and shat

stern corps of the Guards. All semblance of battle formation was lo

broken, smashed, sha

spelt danger. The French were sweeping in behind them. Langle de Cary was in position to cut off their other flank. The G

Into the bewildered German ranks plunged the French, each man a giant with the intoxication of victory, each man a living vengea

ping, slipping on the bri

ausen

ds, rapidly turning to sticky mud, forbade its passage. There was light enough for slaughter, and the 75's, mobile and easy to handle, chased the Saxons, unlimbered, mowed down the fleeing invaders,

bbornly held the Duke of Würtemberg. Von Hausen had far to go, and the French, fevered with success, would not stop. Hour after hour through that pouring night, the dripping trees saw a slaughter grim

e was

of the Mar

of volunteer dispatch-riders, even though they may be partly accredited. This the boy felt himself to be by reason

be seeing the war for himself, and, if he were successful in making his way to the rear of his old army, the Fourth, he might be given

ce started forth once more on his motor-cycle. The sentries at the gate knew him and he passed by with a cheery word of greeting. Th

boy answered. The facts were true enough, though the implication was a little forced. He thanked his stars that the sentry did not

rain. Beyond the suburbs he passed through little villages, as yet untouched by war. Then, as he

shock, and while the roads had been covered with débris and flocked with refugees, it had shown little of the signs of actual warfare. In his participation in t

hile in the middle stared the ruined walls and eye-less orbits of a shell-rent house. The trees were scarred with shell, the roads littered with brok

along the roadside marked fresh graves. At one place, evidently, a corps of bicyclists had been caught by a sudden storm of she

Horace had a f

ick, was a half-overturned but still recognizable grand piano, and crouched half behind and half on it, the sun throwing his i

oo late

nking thus to dodge the aim. As he skimmed

d not

d the hands still rigidly held the rifle, but there were no eyes in

ill be haunted by ghost

, requiring slow riding. It was not wise to

is battlefield mainly shrapnel and rifle-fire had been used and no high-explosive shell with looping trajectory had stripped the branches. On through the beech-forest to the

en, was

fence was standing. Here the Germans must have made a stand and the ground was leveled flat for their pains. Over a horrid pile, a

rance is interested in

e. Everywhere were graves, bearing thin wooden crosses, with the soldier's kepi or a few faded flowers hanging on them. A village of formerly a hund

le made the bo

ull

ackbird

nch soil again!" said Horace, half a

d the Germans at dead of night and where-never mind why!-the captured German officer had been quietly but expeditiously shot. On through a farm-yar

All these groups were engaged in the same occupation-digging graves. It was one of these aged villagers, who,

oldier's grave, ten

n motor-cars, scraps of shells, and fires where the bodies of score

ntouched. The road to it is covered with sh

en the war was systematized, the nurses were not found in such advanced positions, but at this crisis for France,

s returning? T

shelled in the next hal

. For they know that the

his motor-cycle, and, as he thought of the Red Cross of

is in proportion as i

s more, than in any invention of a larger gun, a more de

Manoury's army, for Manoury had taken advantage of Von Kluck's defeat to cross the River Aisne and was holding the whole northern side of the river, from Compiegne to Soissons. Wh

sh officers of the same stripe, yet he kept away, passing south of Epernay. He learned, however, that though Manoury had crossed, Sir John French had not, and the German he

stablish a firm footing on the other side, and its position was precarious. The long afternoon had shown sights as desolate and in some cases more horri

a great victory," Wellington s

four nights and three days of continuous marching. The thirteen traction-engines couldn't move the guns, for there had been wet weather, and General Von Zwehl had tailed the infantry on with long ropes. Like the slaves of Egypt who hauled blocks of stone for the pyramids, the German soldiers slaved under blows, cur

e flickered like serpents' tongues on the sky and the jagged gash of explosions lit

poured down on the banks of that river, engineers would be laboring to construct bridges and bodies of troops would be trying to cross. The searchlights, like eyes white with hate, peer

utchery, massacre, that, of course, he knew, but that absolute and reckless vandalism should also be ordered, neither his nor any civilized mind would have expected. No one, save a Teuton, ever dreamed that deliberate

great architects of the world were destroyed, if, by their destruction, we promote Germany's victory over her enemies. The commonest, ugliest st

ust be given in the terms of the Battle of the Aisne,

Aisne battlefield is co

ins to the Atlantic Ocean there is no natural li

centration of artillery and the vast ammunition supplies, it can be seen why the Allies were never able that winter to take the heights overlooking the Aisne. For, from Rethel to Compiegne, are bluffs 450 feet high overlooking the river with natural spurs jutting out fro

of "L'Ill

Line of Mo

the battle front. Movement of troops, munitions and provisions

s governed by the old rule of war which declares that the army which chooses the battleground has an advantage of

an of attack. The German General Staff was fully prepared with its defensive line in case Paris did not fall. The sapping and mining corps, the engineer corps, did not join in the adv

e loss of life would have been fearful. The German system of fighting in massed formations ensured that. It would, therefore, be all the more necessary that the defense should be made with machinery. If the heights were to be taken, let flesh and blood do it. The Ger

ee things, each, in its way, a glory to one of the Allied Nations: the valor of the defense of the Belgians at Liége; the dogged courage of the British in

he space of a few hours. The British crossed by a superb frontal attack, which ranks as one of the bravest deeds in modern warfare, and were wiped out. D'Esperey crossed the Aisne east of Bourg, only to find that the

ranch to Metz, passed through Rheims. If Germany were to have the vast supplies she needed, she must take

h held

ine of defense so strong that it had become practically unassailable. Especially it bristled with battery upon battery of "Soixante-Quinze" guns. Fo

very attack, knowing the importance of Rheims to the Germans. There was not a foot of ground that was not covered as with a web by the shrapnel and me

t be taken save by the use of heavy artillery. This could not be brought into position without exposing itself t

nce her most sacred building, where all her kings had been crowned and to which Joan of

om it. A shell struck the scaffolding which had been erected for restoring the left tower. The scaffolding flamed, and the fire spread to the old arched roof of oak below the roof of

he straw was ablaze, overhead the timbers were crackling, glistening drops of molten metal menaced them every few yards and shells were dropping steadi

inoffensive dead in the bombarded streets and they saw a just vengeance in allowing the German wounded to burn alive in the pyre of their o

of Men as well as a Prince of the C

n," he said, "but you

e. Then, with that sudden response to greatness which lies hid in the hearts of all men, the crowd leaped forw

e brave act of a prelate she would have delighted to honor and the reco

TNO

he 7th Army. Just why it was officiall