The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-09-25
SUDDENLY CHANGE PLANS
WHEN ALMOST AT GATES OF PARIS
BY H. M. ToMLINsoN.
International News servlee.)

greater significance than that worked
on the German plan by Liege. Liege
only interrupted that plan. Just when
1t seemed certain of success, the plan
had been definitely changed.
Why was 1t changed WHEN Paris ap-
peared within reach?
After my first journey along the
battle line indicated the rapid ad-
vance Of the German right wing NOV
ing directly on Paris through Amiens.
The tunnels of Amiens were blown up
behind the last train of fugitives OF
whom l was one. Saturday, August
20, the enemy seemed irresistible.
The northwest coast of France as far
as Dieppe was in their hands.
But even then l had reason to be-
lieve the allies were favorably dis
posed to check that advance.
/ was unpleasantly surprised on my
second journey south to find that at
Beauvais, south of Amiens, l was
actually between the French and Ger
man forces.
A rapid and perilous flight from
there along the German front brought
me to Criel, 80 miles north of Paris
| found the British headquarters and
center of the allies there. That night,
September 2, the main armies were
in contact. l spoke to British SOL
diers engaged that day at Senlis, only
IL miles from the Paris Notifications.
Big Battle Beginning.
Paris was within sound of the Ger
man guns. A stupendous battle was
beginning.
The German forces were beginning
to strike as l got into Paris. But the
allies were between and ranged on
either flank of the Germans in the
northeasterly direction to Aumale and
hezieres.
The scenes In Paris will never be
forgotten.
Parisians could learn nothing from
their heavily censored press. They
could not believe me when told them
the English infantry had encountered
the Prussian cavalry close to their
city, There were, however, no signs
OF panic.
Indeed, have seen nothing Of that
sort in the whole French war area
What one saw in Paris was grief.
The streets and railway stations
became filled with weary, anxious
fugitives Was there anything or
earth which could stop the Germans
The French soldiers smiled content
eddy when discussing the matter, Il
looked bad enough, they admitted, bu
what IL the Prussians thought SO
too?
Driven Back Now.
And now there is not one Prussiar
so close to Paris. They realize thai
something to their disadvantage has
occurred and have changed theil
minds about at $3.50 a. m. The trair
was so full of refugees that they were
massed in corridors propped VI
against each other asleep. | had par
of compartment floor to sleep on.
The horrors of that journey arr
part Of the Armageddon, no doubt
But they do not come into this mar
rative.
We crept stealthily through lonl
lighted tunnels. The wheels hardl!
moved.
A few days before the country t.
the east was only possible" al
Frenchmen put it. The Germans
were everywhere. As we now pro
crossed | became conscious that {
weight had been lifted from that par
Of France.
The Germans Gone.
The Germans had gone. There wal
no doubt of it. We saw men fishing
and pulling carrots in district thai
but a few days before seemed over
run by the enemy's legions.
What was to stop them? Apparent
ly very little. The French force,
can vouch, was far too weak to bt
effective II really looked as though
there were an invitation for them t
come that way.
Had the three days battle at Crei
checked the enemy? Something mo
mentous had happened.
To the northeast the Germans haC
passed Rheims. A hurried motor
journey showed in that direction the
land was clear.
1t was quite evident they hat
changed their plan of attack and theil
front and were marching southeast
with their usual rapidity.
New Move Seen.
set out to discover what had hap
pened. Was the battle fought by the
German right at Creil intended tC
mask a new German movement t
break through the French forces
ranged northeasterly through Rheims
The German forces had been NOV
ing with exceptional mobility anC
strength almost due south from the
line Of Lille and Namur.
The French and British forces hat
been forced back from position to pc
sltion. Indeed, it is wonderful the
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