Departure from London, September 8th, 1914—A German officer’s analysis of the invaders’ plan of campaign—Paris—General condition of doubt and uncertainty—Travelling during the Battle of the Marne—Effect in France of the news of the victory
Arrival in Dijon—The laisser-passer difficulty—BesanÇon—An anxious moment—Arrival at Belfort—Doubtful reception—A Socialist private—Manifesto “Aux Camerades Socialistes”—National Service—A Capitalists’ War—The Strike of Strikes—The struggle for freedom—État de siÈge—A city of darkness—Welcome by the Governor
On German soil—Montreux Vieux—The first ruined village—Towards the Rhine—A night reconnaissance in Alsace—Ferette—Covert drawn blank—Cheerfulness of the French soldier—His longing for home—His home at the front—Taube “over”—A Colonel’s hobby—An army in earnest
Eve of the War—French neutral zone along the frontier—German raids in time of peace—Sunday, August 2nd—The affair at Joncherey—First blood—A German epic—The Suarce raid—Robbery under arms—Political importance of the incident—Prisoners of war where no war was
News of Nancy—German lies—Security of Belfort—After twelve months—Breakdown of German plans—Visit to the PrÉfet of Belfort—A Prefect’s duties and position—Check on militarism—Special duties during the war—The PrÉfets and Sous-PrÉfets of the frontier Departments—Posts of danger—Example and precept—Return to Dijon—Chalindrey—British Tommies—Wounded French officers—Toul—Arrival in Nancy
Discouraging start in Nancy—General de la MasselliÈre—Visits to the Prefect and Mayor—Their appointment—Madame Mirman—Their example—The Lorraine stock—Nancy by night—The sound of the guns—A united people—The French renaissance—Nancy newspapers—Nancy hospitals—Nursing sisters
The German territorial gains—Bearing on peace proposals—The French offensive—General moral effect—Uncertainty as to direction of German attack—Sources from which eastern armies were drawn—Their offensive—General account—In the Woevre—Verdun and Longwy—From the Moselle to Mulhouse—The frontier force—Justification of the offensive—Description of frontier—Of Alsace—Importance of the Vosges—The Sundgau—First French advance on August 7th—Altkirch retaken
Advance on Mulhouse—Unopposed entry—Popular rejoicings—German counter-attack—Smallness of French force—Their repulse—Terrorism—Harsh treatment of foreigners—Reorganization of French under General Pau—Second advance on Mulhouse—Battle round the town—Victory of the French—Second occupation began
Description of the Vosges—French advance—Triumphs in Lorraine—The check at Morhange—Why the French fell into the trap—The disaster—New birth of the army—Bad news—The offensive abandoned
Combination of reverses for France—Soldiers’ ignorance of contemporary events—Reliance on barrier of fortresses—Determination to fight in the open—Different conditions—Position after Morhange—German advance—TrouÉe de Charmes—Epinal—Vesouze, Mortagne, and Meurthe—Brave resistance of Dubail’s army—The reverse of the picture—The terrorists’ Credo—Condemnation of frightfulness—An example—The German excuse
GerbÉviller—Visit with M. Mirman—The ruins—Murder of old men—How the town was taken—Incendiarism—Soeur Julie—An act of “sacrilege”—Other martyred towns—Badonviller—The first occupation—The second—Fight in the streets—St. Benoit—Col de la Chipotte
