New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-27
Thunder Destroys Moral
Effect of Bombardment
of Nancy.
KAISER'S TROOPS
ALL FALLING BACK
Marked Progress Made by
French Army in Last Week
Enemy Growing Weaker.
BY c. lNMAN BARNARD.
[phrls Corresnondent Of tn. Tribune. ]


[Parls Correspondent Of The Trlbune.l
Nancy, Dec. 26.-From all parts OF
the eastern frontier come favorable re-
ports. Everything goes to show the
Germans are weakening all along the
line. One of the best signs that things
are returning to something like normal
conditions is seen in the fact that for
the first time since the declaration Of
war an express train, with the added
luxury of n restaurant ear, began to
run three days ago between Paris and
Nancy.
Life in the capital of French Lor-
raine has returned to normal condi-
tions. Tramways are running and
business lie has been resumed. Moth
ing but the number of military uni
forms in the cafes. and the continual
rush of military automobiles through
the streets reminds one that less than
forty miles away 100000 men are
night and day in death grips. Every
thing, however, goes to show that the
Germans are weakening all along the
ress made by the French is not strik-
ing from day to day, but if slow it is
sure.
All the German plans in the east
have failed as completely as they have
in the north. One Of the most remark
able features of he campaign is that
the Germans did not occupy Nancy.
Such occupation has always been
looked upon as a possibility. not to say
probability, by the French staff.
The ancient capital of Lorraine IS
an open town, practically without de-
fence of any kind. Its occupation, 1t
is true, would have no strategic i'm.
portance, but it would have fiattered
German pride to have made a trium-
phant entry into the city, one of the
most prosperous and beautiful in
France, and il was not for want OF
making the effort that the Germans
failed to enter Nancy, but the defence
of Couronne de Nancy, high hill,
about twenty kilometres from the city,
was so stubborn that the Kaiser's
forces were held in check. The at
tack, however, was so fierce that the
German heavy batteries were pushed
forward TO within striking distance OF
the city, and the quarter of Ste. Anne
was heavily bombarded for a couple
of hours.
A curious thing is that 80 per cent
of the inhabitants never were aware
of the fact, for on the night of the
bombardment a tremendous storm or
thunder and lightning burst over the
city, completely drowning the noise of
the Kasier's artillery. It was, there
fore, only the quarter actually bonn
barded that was aware of the fact.
All moral effect Of the lombard
ment on the troops and citizens, there
fore, was completely lost, and when
the next day the Germans delivered a
supreme attack, under the eyes of the
Kaiser, in person, il was successfully
resisted. In fact, when one compares
the situation in Lorraine to-day with
that of few short weeks ago, the fail
ure Of the German effort is seen in
all its completeness.
At that time the French troops which
had invaded Lower Alsace, capturing
Altkirchen and Mulhausen, had been
repulsed and driven back out of Ger
man territory. General Knoerzer had
captured st. Die and General Won Goer-
ingen had driven the French out of the
important town of Luneville. The Ger
man forces had advanced forty kilo-
metres into French territory and held
a score of towns and villages. and what
is the situation to-day? General Knoer-
ger has been driven from 81. Die. while
the French have pushed forward and
now hold the mountain passes leading
10 Alsace.
Italy's Neutrality a Help.
The fact that the neutrality of Italy
has set free the French Alpine troops
Gives France an enormous advantage.
Chasseurs ,of the Alpines are experts
IN handling mountain guns and are
practiced ski runners. This is a cate
cory of troops entirely wanting in the
German army. The result Of this is
that from Nancy to the Swiss frontier
there is not single German soldier
on French soil.
The forward movement on st. Die
and the mountain passes of the Nosges
forced General Goeringen's troops to
evacuate Luneville in all haste. Since
Tuesday the railway service has been
reorganized and the trains are running
all over the railway system between
Nancy and st. Die and Luneville, but
this is not all. Not only has Belfort
successfully held the famous Trouee
de Belfort against the enemy, but the
French have pushed forward into Al
SAGE and occupied that. A week ago
thew captured Anspach and Donnemarie
and are now threatening Altkirchen
and Mulhausen, but this time opera
tiors have been carried out slowly and
with care. The scale of operations is
very different from the brilliant but
unfortunate promenade of the military
last August. when the French made
tbeir famous dash to Mulhausen, only
20 be driven back across the frontier.
As General Joffre assured the inhabi-
tants T. few days ago, when he made
a fiyinc visit to the conquered terri
tory: "The French this time have come
TO stay" The civil administration is
now going hand in hand with the mill
tary operations.