armies had
proceeded to intrench, making themselves as comfortable as possible, and
constructing huts and other substantial shelters against the icy hand of
King Winter, who had come to rule over the battlefield.

The French cabinet, which had fled from Paris to Bordeaux when the German
army drew close to Paris, had returned to the former capital, and affairs
of state were being conducted as before. With several millions of
fighting men at the front, France still had an additional two million to
hurl into the thick of the fray at the psychological moment.

Recruiting in England, slow at first, was now beginning to be more
satisfactory. Lord Kitchener had in the neighborhood of a million and a
half men being trained and prepared for the rigors of war. These, also,
would be hurled into the thick of the fight when the time was ripe.

It was plainly evident, however, that the Allies were content to hold
their present lines. There was little doubt that it was their plan to let
the real fighting be held off till spring, when, by hurling an additional
three million men into the field, they believed they could settle German
militarism once and for all.

Rumors of other countries joining in the great war grew more rife daily.
Portugal already had given assurances that she would throw her army to
the support of Great Britain should she be asked to do so. A great
diplomatic _coup_--a great victory for British statesmanship--had cleared
the way for the entrance of Rumania and Greece into the war on the side
of the Allies. This _coup_ had been to gain from Bulgaria assurances that
Bulgaria would not go to the support of Germany should Rumania and
Greece take up arms.

The Italian populace, also, was clamoring for war. In Rome demonstrations
against Germany had become frequent and violent. It appeared to be only a
question of time until Italy also would hurl her millions of trained
fighting men into the field in support of the Allies.

From Ostend the great battle line extended due south to Noyen, where
it branched off to the southeast. South of Noyen French soil had
been almost cleared of the Germans. Alsace had in turn been invaded
by the French, who had penetrated to within twelve miles of
Strasbourg. The French troops also had progressed to within eight
miles of Metz, in Lorraine.

The forward move by the southern army of France had been sudden, and the
Germans had been forced to give way under the desperation and courage