The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-09-01

the German army, and Room, and
orders were given for the immediate
mobilization OF the three armies.
In the meantime the North Ger
man confederation came soIidly TO
the support of Prussia That coali-
ton, formed after the war with Den
mark, took the place OF the German
federation and comprised Hanover
ItHesse-Cassell, Nassau, Frankfort
and other provinces under the domi-
nation of the King of Prussia. The
North German confederation was
able to throw into the field an army
Of 49, 900 men Immediately.
To the chagrin of France, the
Southern German states also came
to the assistance of Prussia, and each
sent troops to swell the army. At
the present outset of the war, the
Germans were able to oppose France
with upwards of million men
Against these vast forces, France,
TO her surprise and alarm, was able
TO mobilize an initial army of only
| $50 900 men. Napoleon's eyes were
quickly opened, and he saw the des-
tperation of his position. The En-
lperor had supposed that the French
army was on war footing, and that
with the reserves. more than half a
million men could be put in the
| field. His minister of war had in
formed him that the army was pre-
Ipared for war down to the last but
ton on the private soldiers coat. .
How far this was from the truth
was quickly shown.
OF the three initial armies formed
by Germany, the first under General
won Steinmetz, was placed near
Treves; the second, under Prince
Frederick Charles, was sent to the
Rhenish Palatine; the third, under
the Grown Prince of Prussia, took
up its position on the frontier of
Baden. These armies consisted of
about 100000 men. Subsequently
Germany placed fourth army in the
field under General Vogel Won Falk-
enstein, which raised the total to
$50, 900, and later fifth army corps
was raised under Gen Won Bitten.
field. This, with additions to the
other armies. brought Germany's
fighting force up to nealy one mil
Ioin.
The French army was divided into
six corps, under MarshaIls McMa-
hon. and Bazaine, and Generals Fos-
Isard, 1admirault, Felix Douay and
DeFailly. The French reserves
were in even worse fix than the reg
ular army, but Emperor Napoleon
managed to round up loo, 900 of
them, under Marshal Canrobert.
This brought the French fighting
force to a little more than $4,000
men, who were scattered over bat
tie line of one hundred miles in
length, thru Strassburg, the Pala-
ten. Metz. ST. Avoid, Thoinville,
Nancy, Chalons and the fortress of
,Belfort.
These were the positions of the
two opposing armies late in July al
most the same time of the year
when the present grea55 European
war had its beginning. When King
William of Prussia went to the
front to take personal command of
his forces in the field, Count Hell
muth Won Moltke was second in com
mand. "A few days after the war of
1914 began, dispatches reported
! that Kaiser William, son of William
H., had gone to the front to take per-
sonal command. Count Julius Won
Moltke is his chief of staff.
The first shot of the Franco-Prus-
sian war was fired at Saarbruck Aug.
2. 1870, when the French, under
General Frossard attacked and
routed the Germans. The result of
the battle was untmportant, strate-
getically. There was slight fighting
at Saarbruck a few days ago.
/ Two days later on august I, the
first serious conf.ct OF the war of
/ 1870 occurred at Weissenburg,
where the German advance guard
i was attacked by the French under
General Douay.