Kelly Millers History of the World War for Human Rights | Page 9

at Verdun because it was not safe to leave
that fortress unconquered in the rear.
THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE MARNE.
The Marne is a small river in France, gently coursing from the
water-shed south of Verdun to the Seine near Paris, its general course
convex to the north. It will hereafter rank as one of the storied rivers of
history, the scene of mighty battles, where the red tide of German

success ebbed in its flow. The night of September 4, the German armies
were in position along this river in an irregularly curved line slightly
convex to the south from a point only twenty-five miles east of Paris to
Verdun, one hundred and twenty-five miles, slightly to the northeast.
The evening of that day, General Joffre issued orders for a general
attack all along the line. His message to the French Senate was couched
in words of deep meaning,--he had made, he said, the best disposition
possible. France could only await in hope the outcome. The battle that
began the next day continued for one week and ended with a victory for
the Allies as the German armies were forced back everywhere, a
varying distance, to a line of defense prepared back of the Aisne River,
to the north and east. This was a marvelous result. Just as the world was
waiting with bated breath to hear of the fall of Paris, it heard instead,
that the German army was in retreat. It was truly a miracle. Why not
see in it proof that a Power infinitely greater than that of man was
directing events?
THE MAGNITUDE OF THE BATTLE.
The battle front covered a distance of about 125 miles. The forces
engaged numbered about 1,500,000 men. Thus this battle far exceeds in
magnitude the battle of Mukden, previously considered the greatest
battle of modern times; while the great battle of Waterloo was an
insignificant skirmish in comparison. It is of further interest to learn
that Allied success was largely the result of the use of flying machines
for scouting purposes, which enabled General Joffre to take instant
advantage of tactical mistakes of General Von Kluck. The results were
commensurate with the immensity of the struggle. Paris was saved; the
first period of the war in the west was ended; Germany was rudely
awakened from her dream of easy conquest.
THE BATTLE OF TANNENBERG.
The success of the Allies in the west was in a measure offset by
Teutonic victories in the east. When the invasion of Belgium began,
Russia made immediate efforts to counteract by invasion of East
Prussia. She was successful to the extent of drawing to that section a
number of army corps that would otherwise have taken part in the

Marne campaign. These movements culminated in the battle of
Tannenberg, commencing August 26, 1914. Tannenberg is nearly one
hundred miles southeast of Konigsburg. This was the battle that gave
General Von Hindenburg his fame. He was a native of East Prussia,
and acquainted with the country, but had lived in retirement for some
years. Appointed to command, he made such a skillful disposition of
his troops that the Russian army was virtually annihilated, less than one
corps escaped by headlong flight. According to German authority,
70,000 Russians were captured. General Von Hindenburg was
acclaimed the greatest soldier of the day, and was immediately
appointed field marshal in command of all the German forces in the
east.
EVENTS OF 1915.
The year 1915 was one of meager results, the advantages remaining on
the side of the Central Powers, with this understanding, however: The
Allies were growing stronger because Great Britain was making rapid
progress in marshaling her resources for war. On the west front, the
long, irregular line of trenches, from Switzerland on the south to
Ostend on the North Sea, marking the German retreat after the battle of
the Marne, remained without substantial change. Do not understand
there were no battles along that extended line. Almost daily there were
conflicts that in former wars would have been given a place among the
world's great battles. They are scarcely worth mentioning in the annals
of this war. Back and forth across that narrow line surged the red tide
without decisive changes in position. There were attacks and
counter-attacks of the most sanguinary nature near Calais. The first
instance of the use of gas in war occurred in these battles, at the second
battle of Ypres, April 23, 1915.
ON THE EAST FRONT.
In spite of the great reverse at Tannenberg, Russia was not defeated.
Her armies in Galicia (Northeastern Hungary) were winning important
battles. A determined effort was made in 1915 by Germany to crush
Russia and thus retire her from the war. For days at a time, on the
railroads of East Germany, double headed trains