flank against attacks on the line from Metz to Thionville; to
retain in front of them the greatest possible number of German army
corps; to free as far as practicable, the national territory that had
been invaded, especially in the Woevre region and around Verdun.

In a first period (Sept. 13-29) the enemy had the upper hand,
fortified themselves in St. Mihiel, reached the Hauts-de-Meuse, and
threatened Verdun.

In the second period (Oct. 1 to Nov. 30) we regained the advantage.

We cleared the vicinity of Verdun. We advanced east of Nancy, which is
now quite safe from German shells, to the north of Luneville, and to
the northeast and east of Saint-Die.

In November we had recovered almost in its integrity the invaded
territory between Belfort and the Moselle.

_In brief, the situation on Dec. 1 was as follows:_

In number of men, the French Army is equal to what it was on Aug. 2,
as all the gaps have been filled up.

The quality of the troops is infinitely better. Our men now fight like
veterans. All are deeply convinced of their superiority and have
absolute faith in the final victory.

Several necessary changes were made among the commanding officers, and
in the last three months none of those mistakes was committed that had
been observed and punished in August.

Our supply in artillery ammunition has been largely increased. The
heavy artillery which we lacked has been provided for and seen at work
on the battlefield.

The English Army has been very heavily reinforced in November. It is
numerically stronger than at the outset of the campaign. The Indian
troops have completed their apprenticeship in European warfare.

The Belgian Army has been reorganized into six divisions. It is ready
and eager to reconquer the national territory.

A SERIES OF GERMAN REVERSES.

The enemy have failed in their abrupt attack upon Nancy.

They failed in their swift march on Paris.

They failed to envelop our left wing in August.

They failed in the same attempt in November.

They failed to pierce through our centre in September.

They failed in their attack by way of the coast on Dunkirk and Calais.

They failed in their attack on Ypres.

_The Bulletin des Armees concludes its account in these words:_

Germany has exhausted its reserves in this fruitless effort. Her newly
formed troops are raw.

Russia more and more asserts her superiority against Germany, as well
as against Austria.

The German armies aft