The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-08-19
The Story Of the Triple Entente


was reached the French veteran army
was thing of the past and France
was represented by unframed troops.
These green troops fought we'll and
outnumbered the German, but, never.
theless. they were defeated by the
more experienced Teutons. This in
stance, like others, tend to show that
volunteer army can usually be de-
feated by smaller trained force.
After winning on the 9Th of August
the Germans had the contest we'll in
hand and struck out with more men.
The French retreat then became al
most riot and their army, hearing of
small mistakes and news of that sort,
! became little discouraged. However,
on the 18th they claimed battle a
draw but did not take the offensive at
the proper time and drove this tenn
porary advantage or equality home.
/ Hesitated and Lost.
| The great battle of the war followed
two days later. The French had a
good position, and II they had been
handled better, they should have won.
AS it actually happened, their General
miscalculated and hesitated. AS a re-
suit, although the battle was some
what Of draw, the ultimate gain was
the Germans, who increased the value
of their strategic power so much that
i they were enabled to surround the
French.
An army was ordered to the relief
o fthe French forces, but it was hasti
ly organized and of mixed personnel
Its General could not move as quickly
as he desired and he was discovered
by the Germans, who thereafter knew
what he was doing-and planned ac.
cordingly. All during the war, indeed,
the Germans were, well posted on
French movements, because they used
their cavalry well >as scouts and
screens, which is the modern method
The French used their cavalry for
dashes. The French, on the other
hand, had the best muskets, but they
relied too much on their cannon.
The Germans used their knowledge
of the French movements well, caught
up with the relief army, surrounded il
and defeated it-this was on the first
day of September. The French posi-
ton was plainly good for this battle
but their forces lacked cohesion, and
the generals disputed about authority
The Germans, on the other hand, were
confident and flushed with victory. AT
the end of the day the French were
herded together, surrounded by Ger
mans with heavy cannon. Their re
quest for an armistice was refused
and they surrendered Internationally
Three days after this battle the
French monarchy fell and repub-
lican form of government sprang up
unopposed. France was in critical
situation and willing to make peace
six weeks after the war began. The
Germans, however, asked for the actu
al ceding to them of Alsace and Lor.
raine as war indemnity
To this the French would not agree,
and sturdily prepared to renew the
war. They then put up resistance
that the Germans did not expect, espe-
cially at Paris. The Germans thought
Paris would fall easily. but. instead
the Parisians defended the city fierce
ly all throug the winter and autumn.
They lived on everything from cats
to rats.
Bombardment Of Paris.
Finally, late in December, the Ger
mans became tired of using less siren
| uous methods and started the bonn
bardment of Paris. In the meantime,
the frontier French army had surren.
dered to the Germans in what was the
most terrible disaster in history-they
gave up one thousand cannon, ten