gly
set about encompassing her downfall. He knew the world would not
approve of Germany attacking a foreign foe; there was no excuse that
could be found.

Therefore, as he himself has confessed, he started France into
empire-colonial upbuilding in Africa and Asia, with the full intention
of leading her into a clash with England. When this point was reached
many years afterwards, Delcasse clearly saw the situation, and, instead
of war, made friends with England. All the world knows the result.
Germany demanded his resignation from the French Cabinet under threat
of war. France was humiliated, Delcasse dropped. Later he led the
movement to strengthen the navy of France as well as the army. It may
be declared that Delcasse created the Triple Entente and thereby saved
France and Europe. To-day France fights a wholly defensive battle,
supported on the one side by the Russian bear and on the other by the
British lion. And strongest in the new cabinet of France stands
Delcasse.

France was chastened by the war of 1870. She will be crushed or
redeemed by the war of 1915. The spirit of her people to-day is the
spirit of sacrifice. The French character never before shone forth so
nobly.

"What a terrible disfigurement!" exclaimed a thoughtless lady as she
visited the wounded in a great French hospital.

"Not a disfigurement at all, madame," exclaimed the French soldier. "A
decoration!"

Out of this war may come great political and military heroes. There is
one general in France to-day whose name is not widely known but of whom
his associates say, "He is not only the equal but the superior of
Napoleon." But the great hero throughout Europe to-day is the King of
the Belgians, of that little country that grew daily bigger in the eyes
of the world as it grew daily smaller in possessed territory. There
are those who believe that France and Belgium will be hereafter closer
together than before, and that--stranger things have happened--the King
of the little Belgians might be no greater miracle for France than the
little Corsican more than one hundred years ago.

CHAPTER VI

THE POSITION OF FRANCE

The Iron Hand of War--Paris offered in Sacrifice--Faulty
Mobilization--The French Army--The Joffre Strategy--The German Retreat.

The position of France to-day cannot be compared with that of any other
country in the war. The French people have a distinctive genius all
their own. They are still the greate