ntier,
that the French entered it without being compelled to fire a shot, was a
surprise to every one with the probable exception of the German and
French General Staffs.

The citizens of Muelhausen repeated the joyous ovation bestowed on the
French troops in Altkirch. The French uniform was hailed as the visible
sign of deliverance from German dominion, and the restoration of the
lost province to their kindred of the neighboring republic. The climax
of this ebullition was reached in a proclamation issued by direction of
General Joffre. "People of Alsace," it ran, "after forty years of weary
waiting, French soldiers again tread the soil of your native country.
They are the pioneers in the great work of redemption. What emotion and
what pride for them! To complete the work they are ready to sacrifice
their lives. The French nation with one heart spurs them forward, and on
the folds of their flag are inscribed the magical names Liberty and
Right. Long live France! Long live Alsace!"

During August 8, 1914, some intermittent fighting went on in the
vicinity of Muelhausen, which seems to have given the French general in
command the impression that the Germans were not eager for a
counterattack. In turn the Germans may well have been puzzled that a
French brigade instead of an army was thrown into Upper Alsace for the
bait of Muelhausen. Possibly they waited a little for the main body,
which did not come.

Sunday, August 9, 1914, revealed the Germans in such overpowering
strength, that the French were left no other choice than to beat a
hasty retreat. They accordingly fell back upon Altkirch, to intrench a
few miles beyond their own border. Thus ended the French initial
offensive. In military reckoning it achieved little of value.

Meanwhile in the Ardennes on August 13, 1914, the German Crown Prince,
commanding the Fourth Army, advanced from Luxemburg into the southern
Ardennes and captured Neufchateau. His further objective was to break
through the French line somewhere near the historic ground of Sedan. But
at this point some change in the German plan seems to have taken place.
From the maze enveloping the opening events of the war, one can only
conjecture a reason which would move such an irrevocable body as the
German General Staff to alter a long-fixed plan. Probably, then, the
unanticipated strength of Belgian resistance foreshadowed the summoning
of reenforcements to Von Kluck's right wing of the whole German arm