The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-07-31
Allies Claim
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the outcome" says Count Adrien Ian
mes de Montebello in a review of the
first twelve months OF hostilitieS given
10 The Associated Press. Count de
Montebello, recognized authority on
military affairs, was one oil the strong.
est advocates OF the three year mill.
tary service Law, and its co-author
with the former Premier, Louis Bar
thou. He was formerly Deputy OF
Rheims and Vice President OF the
Committee on Military Affairs of the
Chamber OF Deputies. His grandfath-
er was Marshal Lannes, at whose
death on the battlefield OF Essliug Ma
poleon 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 ad'
vcrSaries who. knowing their inten-
tons. had accumulated an immense
supply Of fighting material and dlspos-
ed OF Ifeir ul0pS in such manner
as TO strike the most powerful blow
Of which they were capable.
Germany threw against Belgium
and France 80 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 in
itial reverscs and great losses, espe-
cially in the battle OF CharlerOi. While
the French armies were in retreat a
national ministry was formed and the
civil population of France organized
for war The French and British ar
mics stood on the line OF the Marine
from a point near Paris 10 the East
ern frontier OF France. They receiv-
cd 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 line
OF more than 120 miles.
The French troops were too ex-
hauStcd by their fifteen days Of
marching and fighting TO make their
victory decisive. The Germans check
cd their retreat upon the line of the
Aisne. and had sufficient time 10 dig
in. The battle of the AiSne developed
by the Germans endeavoring to turn
our left 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.
simultaneous with the battle of the
Marine. though forming no part OF the
battlefront OF what has been called
the Battle Of the Marine, we're the
operations 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 Rup-
precht of Bavaria. marching on Nam
cy. both we're defeated in some Of the
bIoodicst engagements OF the entire
war.
THE ultimate result Of these de-
teats was the liberation OF that part
of The ancient province OF Lorraine
left 10 France after 1870 from the oc-
mpation of the German army. The
German forces had penetrated Is or
is miles. They were not only driven
out before the first Of November. but
since then the French have invaded
Upper Alsace, of which they now hold
a considerable part. This country. ia
ken from France in the war OF 1870
II. has been rcorganized and is under
control of civil government. which
restored the school and judicial sys-
tenn 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 ad-
vance at Scissors during the foods
Of the river AiSne. the advance at
Ypres, partially lost afterwards, at the
time of the first attack. with the as
sIstance Of asphyXiating gas.
The successes OF the allies since
the aBttle OF the Marine are in the re-
capture OF Thanh. Steinbach, Harris
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