The midland journal., 1915-08-06
FIRST YEAR OF THE
WAR in THE WEST

The first month and a half of the
western campaign was made up of
startling, swift moves On September
IL, after the defeat on the Marne, the
Germans took up defensive positions
along the Aisne river. The ten and a
half months since then have seen a
long deadlock.
The battle line of the Aisne and the
Disc quickly extended northeast to the
sea. Fighting has been continuous,
with tremendous losses. The general
situation has remained unchanged,
gains Of few miles for one side at
one point Offset by minor gains for
the enemy in other sectors
At the beginning of August the
kaiser took possession of the little
state of Luxembourg and demanded
passage through Belgium to the Fran
co-Belgian frontier.
Permission to pass denied, Won
Einem attacked Liege august ~,
while other German armies passed
around the city and swept over the
level Belgian roads at terrific rate.
The little Belgian army yielded Brus-
sells and fell back to Antwerp and
Ghent.
First Big Engagement.
Not until the Germans had almost
reached the French border did the
first important engagement take place
This is generally known as the battle
of Mons-Charleroi (about August 20
2S), but at the same time there was
severe fighting along the whole line
through Thionville in Lorraine and
along the Vosges in upper Alsace.
which the French had invaded with
temporary success,
This battle resulted in defeat for the
French and English.
While obtaining some successes in
counter-attacks ON the advancing Ger,
mans at Peronne and at Guise, the
French were obliged to fall back rap
Idly to the line of the River Marne.
On the left the French had with
drawn to below Paris and the western
most German army. under Won Kluck,
followed
The garrison of Paris was put in
thousands of motor cars and hurled on
Won Kluck's flank. The latter was not
taken entirely unawares and met the
attack strongly, but at the same time
the army of General Foch attacked the
German army ON Won Kluck's left and
drove it back.
Driven Back From Paris.
The Germans had begun the battle
with five armies in line. The with
drawal of the two farthest west now
caused the retreat of the third, fourth
and fifth in that order, each in turn
finding it's flank exposed by the with
drawal of the troops on it's right At
the same time the movement on the
east end Of the German line was ac-
celebrated by strong attack from the
French fortified zone Of Verdun.
The German retreat was as orderly
as that of the French and English had
been. The invaders took up an ad-
mirable defensive position. 1t ran
Just north OF the Aisne river, on
series of bluffs, then just north of
Chalons and through the wooded,
rough regions of the Argonne and the
Woevre. Joining hands here with the
troops besieging Verdun. The, allies
have tried this line in vain ever since.
Both combatants now tried to turn
the west flank. Enormous bodies of
cavalry. On the part of the French
Flanders. On the part of the French
there was largely the desire to link up
with the Belgians. now being attacked
in Antwerp. The mighty siege guns
of the Germans made short work OF
the Belgian seaport. however, and it
fell on October 8. The remnants of
the Belgian army retreated along the
sea coast and the Germans in a final
rush reached Ostend October 15).
Line Extended to the Sea.
The battle line of the Aisne was now
extended to the sea, the Germans hold
ing the important French city of Lille,
while the allies kept Ypres in Belgium
and. partly by flooding the lowlands,
held the position of the Yser river and
canal.
From October 16 to November 10
was fought the desperate first battle