The German troops were “moving” as early as July 25, while all the governments of Europe, including Austria, were negotiating for and hopeful of peace.  When war was declared against France, she promptly offered Belgium five French army corps for defence.  King Albert declined, saying there had been no invasion of Belgium by Germany, and that Belgian neutrality was guaranteed by treaty.  Within two days the German guns were firing on Belgium; but when King Albert then called upon France for protection, the response was that the French troops which had been offered had been placed elsewhere.  The regular troops probably had.  The new troops were not mobilized, and the French transportation system, to say the least, had not been as responsive as expected.

France paid dearly for her unpreparedness.  Her richest provinces were invaded by the Germans and are still held by the Germans in considerable part.

Caught unprepared, there was only one safe thing for General Joffre to do—­let the Germans expand far from their base while the French concentrated between the German border and Paris, to strike back at the opportune moment against an extended and weakened line.

The march of the armies of Von Kluck—­“General One O’clock,” they called him, and said his fiercest attacks were at one o’clock—­is considered a masterpiece of military precision.  The strategy of General Joffre which foiled him is praised throughout France.

The plan of the Germans was to hold the north of France with the army of Von Kluck while the Crown Prince moved from Luxemburg straight to Paris.  This was theatrical, dramatic, and Kaiserlike; but the French would not consent.  They persisted in holding Verdun and defeating the armies of the Crown Prince.

The English are the greatest fighters in the world in retreat, while the French can fight best in a forward movement.  The little expeditionary army of England, originally 100,000 men but at this time 180,000 men, held the right flank of Von Kluck in the retreat from river to river, from hill to hill, although pounded by 350,000 trained German troops massed on this flank.  This retreat put the stamp of English bravery and dogged determination, as before, on the map of Europe.  Paris was open and exposed to any entry which the Germans wished to make.  The government had retired, the gold reserves of the banks had been moved, the people in large numbers had fled.

Indeed, I may say what has never before been printed, that President Poincare summoned the “architect” of the city to the American embassy and, with tears streaming down his face, told him whence he must take his orders in the future.

Then in a flash went the orders of Joffre along his whole concentrated line of troops:  “The retreat has ended, not another foot; you die here or the enemy goes back!” He had chosen the psychological moment.  The French and English had burned and broken the bridges as they retreated, and with the recoil the German communications were in danger.