Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-07-27
FIRST YEAR OF THE EUROPEAN WAR
AS seen IN FRANCE
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
United Press STAFF Correspondent.

PARIS. July 27.-The Great Doubt
has been lifted from the heart OF
France.
The accomplishment of this was the
erandest deed of French arms in all
the year of Armageddon which began
a year ago this week. In history
the feat will be known as the victory
of the Battle of the Marne.
Not only did this victory probably
decide the fate of France geographi-
cally, but its influence upon the coun-
try was. and still is. incalculable.
For notwithstanding the solidarity"
accomplished instantly and spontane-
ously on August I. the day. the Cen
eral Mobilization Order was posted. a
great doubt weighed like lead on the
hearts Of those who marched away
singing as well as those who stayed
behind and wept
Everybody remembered 1870.
The old remembered the swift de-
feat in the Franco Prussian war and
the horrible nightmare Of blunders.
The young had heard the story time
and again The French in 1870 were
totally unprepared for war, were bad
~ equipped and badly led Their plans
lacked, cohesion. Generals fought in
! dependontly. one of the other. Trea-
son was laid at the door of one and
altogether II was a terrible mess in
which the poor soldiers never had
the slightest chance notwithstanding a
courage which Wrung from even the
Prussians the exclamation. ooh what
brave fellows!'
So, last August. when the soldiers
started for the war, each bore in his
heart a heavier burden than the KNAPP
sack on his back Would history re-
peat itself? Would 1914 be another
1870? Was France better prepared
this time? Would she be better led d.
We're her generals equal 10 the great
task ahead If not. then
The troopers dared not let their
minds run beyond this point. Indi-
vidually the most intelligent soldiers
in the world, they have the other
curse and blessing of civilization, an
imagination; so they sang and quit
thinking; they joked with one anoth-
er never admitting even TO them
selves-let alone to their companions
that the doubt was there
Back home the hearts Of mothers
fathers, wives. sisters. and sweet
hearts were troubled by the same I'M
expressed dread lest 1914 prove an
other 1870. And if such should prove
10 be the case -
Thny foo uraf1oI ,,J
fully Of new and irresistible France
All knew, those who remained
waiting as well as those who went tC
war. that for AZ years Germany haC
been living eating. sleeping. drinking
dreaming war and that this war haC
come. What about France? Who wal
General Joffre? Who were the othe
generals? Newspapers had but re
, Gently declared that France was un
b prepared was this true? And al
went on being troubled in secre
g let France should again prove ur
e ready.
After vague news reached Paris ths
General Joffre was in retreat froi
! Charleroi. the 1870 bugaboo loome
, bigger and bigger Maubeuge was IN
! vested Lille was occupied Then
l there came silent. tense DAYS. viii
E out any real news. The goyernmer
moved to Bordeaux; the German
r we're now in Maubeuge. Compiegn,
Scissors. Rheims. Chaions Eperna,
J LuneVille. Verdun and Nancy wer
- seriously menaced. Paris II SCENE,
was doomed and Uhlans were report
ed to be at the gates. The wors
fears of soldiers and honlefolks seen
I ed realized. II looked like anothe
I 1870. only worse.
( Still there was no panic. Their
J was the exodus of thousands Of pee
pie who objected to living in Par
, during a German occupation, but th
a city was calm. Frances "sacre
union" held firm.
But the Doubt instilled into th
I mind of France by 1870 was Their
I calling and real The people coul
not know that General Joffre wa
. later to be called genius. The
, could only wonder If his retreat wa
. strategy or incompetence. The censoi
ship was strict and they had few fact
y to base opinion on They diG M
5 know the Battle of the Marne wa
l. being fought. nor that Joffre had pei
loImtu, Dy Winning Victory Iler
= sort of eighth wonder of the worl
Yet this was true. General eonnl
said of this battle:
This is the first time to my know
edge. that a great army. retreatin
: and fighting at the same time an
!, for eight days in succession. was alb
u to furnish the effort by itself to tran
. form instantly its long and paint
Z, retreat into an irresistible offensive
= Yet that is what the French arm
!, was able to do Through this vi
!; tory a new Frame was born. I'll
u Great Doubt was lifted. the 1870 bu
aboo banished. The people we're Civ,
!. confidence in the army. the army
II itself.
Henceforth. whatever may happ,
: 10 the French soldier. he will refu
y to be discouraged. He can advanc
: retreat or doggedly hold what he HI
: won, any or all, with tenacity az
4 good cheer. He has faith in his O
: ficers and faith in himself. He know
the war may be long but be grins an
: grits his teeth Wen get EN- at las
u he says.
y The ghost Of 1870 has been laid.