The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-06
GREAT FRENCH MACHINE
IS WORKING SMOOTHLY
Mcthodically and With Remarka BILE
Rapidity Army of Republic Is
Being Lined Up.
PREPARED FOR FIRST SHOCK
Indications Now Are That First Great
Land Battle Will BE Fought in
About Fortnight in Vicinity Of
Metz

Especial Gable 20 The Times Dispatch
PARIS, August with marvellous
smoothness and rapidly, the French
and German armies are getting into
battle array. While Germany Is now
ruthlessiy throwing her troops across
the Belgium border and openly invit-
ing aggression from Great Britain.
France is cooliy and methodical!y, but
quickly, lining up her army corps to
meet the first shock.
There Is no doubt the first great
land battle in this general gar Will be
fought on French soil. because Germany
Is rushing her troops over all her
western frontiers, while France is
holding her soldiers on her own soil
With Germany facing three ways.
eastward to Russia, northwest 10 Eng
land and westward TO France. the re
public is in no haste - deliver an at
tack. BY position and present activity
OF the German army, II looks now as
II the first big battle were about a
fortnight off, and would be fought
medy two grim foriresses on the
Northeastern French frontier facing
Metz.
ENGLAND's MOBILIZATION
MOST IMPORTANT NEWS
The most important development to-
entente. is Ensland's general mobliza-
ton. She will throw 10000 troops
into Belgium. which, with King
Albert's $4,000 well trained soldiers,
will make a total Of half a million
men TO resist Germany's threatened in
cursion into France through the eX-
treme northern section of the frontier
which is unguarded No doubt the
Kaiser hoped to strike at Paris from
the north, not from the east but the
warlike measures of Belgium and Eng
land may defeat that project.
Lord Kitchener, who was TO have left
Yesterday for London, postponed his
departure. allowing one OF Amba ssa
dor Herrick's numerous aides drawn
from the United States Army officers
now here, to take his private saloon
car for. transportation OF his family to
London. The question has arisen of
allowing Kitchener 10 take command
on the Continent. but this is impossi
bic. because of General Kitchener's un-
surpass reputation could not be of
fered anything less than supreme COM
mand. Field Marshal Sir John French.
who will command England's cXpedi-
tionary corps. is also In. Paris.
No great engagement is expected on
the Russo German side for some time.
Russia mobilizes very slowly, owing to
the great distances her troops have to
come before forming. hut when the
Gears J,QUQ.OOO lighters move on Ger
many. il is expected the beginning of
the end will have arrived. and the
Kaiser will be forced to admit the odds
are too great against him.
GERMANY'S POSITION
AT SEA Is INFERIOR
On sea also Germany is in a position
OF grave inferiorty England's mighty
force of $50 craft in first and second
home fleets face $40 German vessels.
not all OF which are ready for war.
Britain's advantage extends also TO SUI
perior suns and heavier broadsides
which they are able TO fire. England's
thirty eight battleships fire Il broad
side of lie tons. while Germany's
twenty-one battleships fire only fifty
eight tons.
While Europe is making supreme ef-
forts before the battle. Paris Is a
model of order and composurc. The
way the situation is handled by Mill
tary Governor General Michel is a les
son to all other. countries. Sabbath
calm is the dominant note of Paris,
and the traditional bubbling tempera-
ment of Frenchnen has now given
place to Il cheerful soberness, charac-
teristic of the Anglo-SaXons. Above
all Is the amazing spirit of mutual
help and a brotherhood.
Liberty, equality and fraternity"
the motto OF the French revolution, has
come into actual play for the first time
4 L.. ~.