The Cordova daily times., 1919-03-11
TUESDAY, MARCH Il, 1919
LIGHT ON WAR PUZZLE

Those of us who followed the war moves with unfagging interest early in the struggle will not be surprised to hear that the Germans regarded their drive through Belgium merely as a feint. An American who was shut up in Strasburg during the entire pe- riod of the war declares that German officers frequently assured him that the dash into Belgium was feint and that the real blow was to be delivered westward from Lorraine against Nancy as center. Speaking to a correspondent of Leslie's this Ameri- can said
 At the outbreak of hostilities the plan of the German high command was not to strike France through Bel gium. The people of the allied coun- tries have long marveled at the phe- tiny Belgium army of S0,0OO or so men against the vast Hun hordes. I would not minimize the great achievement
 
 of the Belgians nor detract one single mite from the glory which is rightly theirs. But I believe I am right when I say that the blow at Belgium was merely feint. I have heard this said hundreds of times by German officers.
 "The plan of the German staff was to feint through Belgium in order to draw the French army and the British 'contemptible' little force as far north as possible. Meanwhile they had con- centrated about one million and a half men in Lorraine east of Nancy ready to break through and end the war at one blow. They got almost as far as Luneville, and the kaiser even had his white charger and gold helmet ready for the grand entry into Nancy But Joffre discovered what the Germans were up to, and he struck tremen- dois whirlwind blow in this direction be ore turning all his efforts against Won Kluck on the Marne That was what saved France"
 It was the drive through Belgium which brought the Germans close to P' ris and earned for them repeated victories until they arrived at the Marne. The observer was amazed that General Joffre kept sending heavy re- Inducements to the Lorraine regions east of Nancy and Verdun. At that time it seemed as if the French com mander was suffering from strange obsession The tyro in military af- fairs kept saying to himself: "Any- one with half an eye can see that the Germans are trying to turn the French left flank by going through Belgium.
 And the tyro was confirmed in his view by the fact that the Germans actually did smash the French and | British left flank and penetrate as far as the Marne But now we are as- sured by one who assumes to know what the German high command was planning that the French were clearly informed all the time concerning the German purpose. It would be inter- esting to ascertain how the French came by this information One is tempted to believe that their spy sys- tenn was more elaborate and more successful than is commonly assumed.
 In the rush and din of the first Marne battle the public, so to speak, lost sight of the pivotal battles in the Verdun and Nancy regions. Had these pivots been shattered the battle of the Marne would never have been fought The Germans would have penetrated quickly to the heart of France and thence to Paris and the south. The combat designated as the battle of the "Grande Couronne de Nancy" was one of the mightiest and most sanguinary of the war. It was fought and won by the French under the leadership of General Castleneau. If the American in Strasburg was cor rectly inforced, the decisive battle of the war was won before the battle of the Marne was at high tide. Usually, however, the two battles are regarded