Evening star., 1898-08-06
CHAPTER ii.
F1aEs-Britfsh and Otheryvfse.

FIaEs-Britfsh and Otherwise.
Three German army corps entered France
simultaneously at different points.
One line of march. from Metz by way of
Gravelotte, Mars Ia Tour and Fresnes-en-
Woevre, followed the historic route of the
last war. Here the French had set up a
formidable barrier of men and guns back
ed by the splendid fortress at Verdun.
The second attack had also been foreseen.
The concentration of Bavarians at Thion-
Vile, or Diedenhofen, as 1t is rechristened
by the Germans, caused the French staff
to expect and prepare for an immediate
junction of the two corps In French terri
tory. In the result they were not mistaken
But the third was unpleasantly new.
Vast numbers of troops were gathered at
both Strasburg and Mulhausen. From each
of these centers the natural advance across
the frontier was, in the one case, by Saar-
burg, north of the vosges mountains.
toward Luneville and Nancy: In the other.
through Alt Munsterol toward strongly
fortified Belfort.
In either event the French would have op-
posed bold front to the invaders. General
Daubisson, who, in his capacity govern
or of Paris, was commander-in-chief under
the supreme control of the king, was cha
grined rather than alarmed when he found
that the southern German column had Sc
cretly detrained at Markirch and was able
to push cavalry vedettes through the heart
of the Vosges as far as Fraize, almost with
out striking a blow.
On the Friday morning the eyes of the
world were bent on Paris and Berlin. The
two cities comported themselves according
to their moods, Paris yelping with excite
ment, the German capital throbbing with
earnestneSs.
The King of France bore himself bravely
before his people. Only in the comparative
secrecy of the rebuilded Tuileries he
showed the agonized apprehension that pos
sessed him.
His one thought was that vansittart
might arrive too late.
1--WE were at least warned soon enough to
have prevented this misfortune" he cried.
Why did We not bring him here a fort
night ago?"
Your majesty forgets," said Liancourt
that Mr.. Vansittart believed as we did,
that Germany would not commit this out
rage upon humanity without even plausible
excuse"
Yes, yes murmured Henri "but the
best of explanations will not disguise the
fact. One short week Of his counsel and
presence would have achieved so much.
One week too soon, rather than too later
Your majesty cannot believe that the
armies OF France will be beaten from the
field within a week."
'Lancourt." and the king turned to his
faithful minister with keen emotion In his
face. Let us not deceive each other. You
know, better than l. perhaps, what our
enemies can accomplish even in that brief
period. 1t is for my brave soldiers, un-
ready, ill-equipped, worse fed, that grieve.
You and 1, my friend, can die at their head
but what will that avail France, France
my country, SO happy. SO prosperous so lit
tie deserving this wretched fater'
Liancourt could only urge the king to
abandon useless regrets and do all within
his power to repair defects. He realized, in
lhelr 1ul bitterness, the truth of Henris
words.
In the palace near the lindens William
II, who, for all his dash and waywardness
Is methodical German, had retired to rest
and slept soundly after the kilograms ar
rived announcing the departure Of the three
columns He rose early, fresh and yigor-
Gus, ready to proceed to the front as soon
as he learned that the left bank of the
Meuse was in possession of his troops.
General Won Gossler waited upon him the
moment he appeared
MS hitting, cried the kaiser, that on
this OF all days | should be greeted by the
war minister. What news, Won Gossler?'
excellent. sire. The fight is in the enc
mys country We have seized the desired
positions the armies are consolidating and
probably the first battle will be in progress
tier" '-ie l. oi-
Yet the generals visape was not .s
cheerfui as his intelligence and the empe-
fof qniek eye noted the discrepancy.
is ausht amss?"
In one respect / have tidinps tbat ,o,,r
majesty will regret to"
Quick. What has happened?,
Coionei Won Moltke was shot bv the
Woevre bridge" W. '"o
Shot, Wounded you mean. trpst"
NO, sire. Shot through the brain
The only place to hit a Moltkei"
- what say the papers about the WARP,
me, me emperor who was more deeply moved
than he cared to admit. picked IN a 60,
Oh the Leitung and turned to the colun,ns
or foreign intelligence. The first para
srapn that met his eyes caused him TO nj
ter an exclamation.
New York Thursday Shou., .
became known that Germany had dacIarad
war against France Mr.. and Mrs. Vansit-
tart ana suite sailed for Europe on hoard
Inna,Ss. 1hra yaeht, me seafarer. The famous mil
Hohaife sympathies for France-jndeed
ne remains naturalized French citizen-
coupled with the fact that the Yachts das-
uhation was kept secret rended tt nroc
az o,catS ny certain that he is bound for Havre
-, ~ SheIpourg: He left his summer home
IN lhe Aalrondacks most unexpectedIv IN
ot nation concerning his intentions is ah
so1uteiy refused at his New York astat.
iant; n,,te IN any case, he cannot cross the Al.
Is 16-knot boat 'e oeaiarer
peHeral Won Gossler wondered what hos
SO disturbed his royal master. hut he u,as
no. iong left in doubt.
turning upon him with a f.oa 80 r.
Wilhelm roared: VI AoiS'
..nf ny was 1 not told of this sooncr?"
oI W-w-what, sire?"
~ the departure of this Yankee adven-
lpaa
your portfoiiop "oiu retain
Olterly at a loss to know what tb,s
storm portended, the general rushed frnr,
IN the room and the kaiser strobe to and fro
IN towering rage. Aio
re had not forgotten the way in which
sansIttart, when president Of the French
iaa played political poker with him Hs
bmt wanted haa no more raising at his hands.
out mad cooled somewhat by the time tbe
secretary ssy for the navy raced back with the
Hurried Won GossIer Will the
Admiral" he shouted "there are ro,,r
weii-defined routes across the AtIant,c?@
Yes, sire" ''o'
Read this. Order a fast cruiser to nro-
ecu along each route and bring this man
nahsittart, with or without his shin tn
hamburg. The commission Of each con1
ta tam depends upon the success of one Of
them They must start forthwith ANA
avoid conflict with French vessels at an,,
&C ST. SoiS a. any
1t was thus that. twelve hours Al fter III,
Seatarer passed the Sandy Hook lipbtsbin
ana turned her smart figure head eastward
TOUR fast and well-armed German cruiserS
sailed from Hamburg and Bremerha Ven ins
tent upon her capture or destruction. The
stars and StriUeS i,, -AAS