New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-01
Unprepared at First,
France Now Fit to Win

Paris, July 31.-A year of war finds
France is fit TO continue the struggle
to the end and confident of the out
come" says Count Adrian Lannes de
Montebello, in review of the first
twelve months of hostilities.
Count de Montebello, a recognized
authority on military affairs, was one
of the strongest advocates of the three
year military service law, and its CO.
author with the former Premier, Louis
Barthou. He was formerly Deputy
from Rheims, and vice-presldent OF the
Committee on Military Affairs of the
Chamber of Deputies. His grandfather
was Marshal Lannes, at whose death on
the battlefield of Essling, Napoleon is
said to have wept.
His review of the war follows:
France was not expecting war, and
her preparations therefore were less
complete than those of her adversaries
who, knowing their intentions, had ac-
cumulated an immense supply of fight
ing material and disposed of their
the most powerful blow of which they
were capable.
Repulsed Superior Forces.
Germany threw against Belgium and
France hfty-twO army corps, or almost
her entire military force as modified
in August. Under the impact of the
German advance the French armies,
with their British allies, suffered ini-
tial reverses and great losses, especial
ly in the battle of Charleroi. While he
French armies were in retreat a nation
al ministry was formed and the civil
population of France organized for war
The French and British armies stood
on the line of the Marne from point
near Paris TO the eastern frontier of
France. They received the shock of
more than 100000 German troops, and
defeated them with somewhat inferior
forces. The Germans were Quilted and
outfought in a vast general action over
a line of more than l20 miles.
The French troops were TOO ex-
hausted by their fifteen days Of march
ing and fighting to make their victory
decisive. The Germans checked their
retreat upon the line of the Aisne and
had sufficient time to dig in. The
battle of the Aisne developed by the
Germans endeavoring TO turn our eft
and by the simultaneous French effort
to turn the German right.
This contest resulted in race for
the sea in the obstinate two months
battle along the User in October and
November. The Germans again failed
and finally gave up that part of their
offensive on account of their terrific
losses.
Crown Prince Defeated.
simultaneously with the battle of
the Marine, though forming no part of
the battle front of what has been called
the battle of the Marine, were the oper-
ations in the Argonne, the Woevre and
the Grand Couronne de Nancy The
army of the German Crown Prince,
marching on Verdun. and the army Of
Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria,
marching on Nancy, both were defeat
ed in some of the bloodiest engage
ments of the entire war.
The ultimate result of these defeats
ed in some of the bloodiest engage
was the liberation of that part of the
ancient province of Lorraine left to
France after 1870 from tn. occupation
of the Germany army. The German
forces had penetrated fifteen or eigh-
teen miles. They were not only driven
out before the first of November, but
since then the French have invaded up
per Alsace. of which they now hold a
considerable part. This country. taken
from France in the war of lS-O-'71, has
been recognized and is under control
OF a civil government. which restored
the school and judicial system Of
France.
From the battle of Charleroi to the
end OF the first year of the war the
Germans achieved no successes on the
western battlefront save the slight
advance at scissors during the floods
Of the river Alsne and the advance al
Ypres. partially lost afterward at .he
time of the first attack with the as
sistance of asphyxiating gas"