CIRCLES OF TIME: The Great War
-by: the Yarnspinner-
the_yarnspinner@yahoo.com
www.geocities.com/the_yarnspinner/
Rated: PG-13
> Chapter 3 - The Steady Drum <
With July of 1914 drawing to a close, Europe sat balanced on a
razor's edge, as the public waited to learn if the conflict in the
Balkans would escalate. Meanwhile, frantic activity prevailed in each of
the major European capitals.
In Berlin, despite his earlier saber-rattling and assurances of
complete support for Austria-Hungary, Kaiser Wilhelm II was now growing
cautious, as was his cousin in St. Petersburg, Tsar Nicholas II. The two
monarchs exchanged messages, hoping unrealistically to confine the
conflict to Serbia. Wilhelm urged restraint on the Austrians, calling on
them to stop after crossing the Danube and occupying Belgrade.
In St. Petersburg, Nicholas proposed a scheme of partial
mobilization, hoping to avoid provoking Germany. His military chiefs
protested, certain the Germans would move anyway, and fearing that their
forces would be unprepared. Under such pressure, the weak-willed Nicholas
yielded, signing an order for full mobilization on July 29. Another
exchange of telegrams between Wilhelm and Nicholas, with the Kaiser
claiming to offer mediation and a way for Russia to avoid a large-scale
war, led Nicholas to change his mind, canceling the mobilization order
later that evening. Foreign Minister Sazonov went to work on the Tsar the
next day, spelling out a long list of fears, with the result that
Nicholas once again issued a full mobilization order.
A similar contest of wills was underway in Berlin, where General
Helmuth von Moltke, the chief of the General Staff, was growing
increasingly alarmed at the prospect of any delay that might throw off
the Schlieffen plan timetable, while the chancellor, Theobald von
Bethmann Hollweg, echoed the Kaiser in urging caution. So exacting was
the German timetable that even a few days could prove critical, and now
Moltke learned that the Austrians were deploying only a minimal covering
force to guard against a Russian attack, prompting him, entirely on his
own initiative to urge the Austrians to full mobilization against the
Russians. The news from St. Petersburg that Russian mobilization would
begin on July 31 was just what Moltke wanted to hear, cutting the
political ground out from under those urging moderation. Germany quickly
dispatched ultimatums to Russia, demanding a suspension of mobilization,
and to France, demanding assurances of French neutrality in the event of
a Russo-German war.
In Paris, there was no serious thought of not standing by their
Russian allies. In fact, General Joseph Joffre, the chief of staff,
plagued with fears of German units already assembling at their jumping
off points while his own were still scattered about at peacetime
stations, sent a frantic note to the Minister of War, warning that each
day's delay was to concede "15 to 25 kilometers" to the enemy. The
cabinet debated Joffre's arguments the next morning, August 1, with
President Raymond Poincare issuing the mobilization order. By chance, the
German mobilization order followed that of France by barely an hour.
Germany declared war on Russia that day, although Nicholas II still
hoped that war could be averted. Wilhelm II clung to similar hopes,
instructing Moltke to cancel the attack in the West and redeploy the army
to Poland. An appalled Moltke protested that it would take months to
accomplish such a transfer, and would leave Germany's western frontier
exposed. Wilhelm bowed under the weight of Moltke's argument,
surrendering his last hope of narrowing the extent of the war.
In London, the government was torn as both France and Germany
demanded to know Britain's intentions. Winston Churchill, First Lord of
the Admiralty, had ordered the fleet to sea as a precaution, but the rest
of Britain's military was largely unprepared. The Entente Cordiale
between Great Britain and France had only brought about cooperation
between the two countries, but did not commit Britain to entering the
conflict. Only the Treaty of London of 1839, guaranteeing Belgian
neutrality, could force Britain into the war. On August 2, Germany
demanded that Belgium grant free passage to its troops marching to attack
France. When the Belgian government refused, German forces invaded, while
delivering their formal declaration of war to France on Monday, August 3.
On August 4, Britain issued an ultimatum to Germany, demanding an end to
military operations against Belgium by midnight. When that demand went
unanswered, Great Britain declared war.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In Havana, the Paladin team monitored events closely, both as
reported in newspapers around the world, and from their sources at the
highest levels of each of the major powers.
In a private room of a small, exclusive restaurant, Setsuna and
Daniel sat at a table with Esteban, the casino manager, and Esteban's
wife, Rosa.
"Have there been any new developments on the search?" Rosa asked.
"Nothing significant," Setsuna said. "It's only been a week. We have
begun to locate a number of collection points, but it's still too soon to
expect to find any of the storage centers, I'm afraid."
"We know the collection of energy has begun, which means all we can
do is wait," Daniel added.
"Yes. And the Order must be looking on developments with some
optimism," Esteban said. "The German advance seems to be getting hung up
among the Belgian forts."
Daniel nodded. "For the moment, at least. But we understand the
Germans are bringing up some of the new heavy Austrian artillery. With
those they can batter the forts into submission."
"It seems the war is being met with great popular enthusiasm," Rosa
said.
"Yes. In Paris, the announcement was met with cheering throngs
crying 'on to Berlin'. Most of the people see it as a great patriotic
adventure, and they've been told it will all be over very quickly,"
Esteban said.
"Huge crowds turned out in Berlin, as well," Daniel said. "Among the
young reservists, there is tremendous fear that the war will be over
before they receive their call up."
"But what happens when the predictions of quick victory prove wrong?
And how do they keep up popular support when the casualties start to
mount?" Rosa asked. "My uncle was a conscript in the Spanish army here in
Cuba during the war with the Americans. He said it was no adventure."
"Very true," Daniel agreed. "People have forgotten the words of the
American General William Tecumseh Sherman."
"War is hell," Esteban quoted.
"Politicians don't want to tell their voters that because they've
gone so long proclaiming the greatness of their respective nations, while
the military chiefs have staked their careers on war plans that promise
quick and easy victories," Daniel said. "Once the war starts to drag on
and the cost goes up, the politicians will be loath to accept anything
less than total victory, since they won't want to have to go tell their
voters that their sons died for no real purpose."
"The spread of democracy in some of the combatant nations will make
this a very different war," Setsuna said.
"Yes," said Daniel. "I believe it was in 1901. Winston Churchill,
then a newly elected Member of Parliament, warned his colleagues that the
wars of peoples would be much bloodier than the wars of kings. In the
days of kings, war was basically a gentleman's game. After a few battles,
one side or the other would ask for terms, some territory would exchange
hands, and both sides would then begin preparing for the next war. But
now, the decisions of war and peace are, in many cases, in the hands of
the people whose sons will do the fighting and dying."
"In other words, the insult must be repaid," Esteban said with a
knowing smile.
Just then, a waiter approached, stopping a discreet distance away,
knowing that Senor Esteban's guests always demanded privacy. A
plainclothes casino security guard stood in the doorway, watching
closely. Esteban raised his hand and motioned for the waiter to approach.
"Telephone call for you, Senor," the waiter said. "The man said it
was urgent."
"Thank you," Esteban said, rising to his feet.
"The manager's office is available for you to take the call, Senor,"
the waiter added.
Esteban nodded, motioning to the guard at the door, and walking with
him toward the office.
"They seem to treat him with considerable deference," Setsuna
observed.
"Yes," Rosa said. "They know him as manager of the casino, and know
that all the casinos here are owned by powerful groups who pay
considerable bribes to the government to operate without interference.
For this reason, the police will usually look the other way when casino
security needs to deal with... troublemakers."
"I suppose it is a useful cover," Daniel said.
"Indeed. And, of course, the position of manager would usually go to
an Anglo. Thus, everyone assumes he must have particularly special
connections with the 'owners'."
"Present the unusual in such a way that it seems perfectly normal,"
said Setsuna. "That is the key to any successful deception."
Esteban returned moments later.
"Anything serious?" Daniel asked.
"I don't think so," Esteban replied. "It was a security matter at
the casino. They notify me when something comes up that isn't routine."
"What did come up?" Setsuna asked.
"One of the croupiers spotted a card professional," Esteban
explained. "We always bounce them right away. But this time, the guards
found what may be a talisman."
"An agent of the Order?" Daniel asked, leaning forward and his voice
hushed.
"I doubt it," Esteban replied, with a slight shake of the head.
"There are a number of possible explanations, and the talisman, if that's
what it is, was passive."
"Passive?" Daniel asked.
"It means simply that the talisman was not radiating energy,"
Setsuna explained. "That would preclude the possibility of it being a
transmitter to relay any evidence of magic energies back to the Order."
"Exactly," Esteban agreed. "But to avoid taking any chances, we're
going to ship him out."
"Ship him out?" Setsuna asked.
"In a few days he will turn up in New York, apparently recovering
from the combination of a severe hangover and a severe beating, with
little memory of the past week or so. The police will dismiss him as a
drunk who was robbed," Esteban explained.
"Is that all necessary?" Setsuna asked.
"As you said before, it is about presenting it in a way that seems
normal to anyone who would be looking for him," Rosa said.
"Indeed. And it maintains our image among the other casinos,"
Esteban said. "Their managements also deal harshly with certain types of
troublemakers."
"If you say so," Setsuna replied.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The stars shone overhead and the soft breeze blew in the gentle
fragrance of the sea as Daniel and Setsuna walked along the street.
"Such a lovely night," Daniel said. "It's hard to believe that in
Europe, young men are killing each other."
Setsuna nodded. "I'm afraid it's not the first time... and it won't
be the last."
"Now that's a depressing thought," Daniel said. "It would be nice to
think, if this thing proves as bloody as we expect, that mankind would
finally learn its lesson."
"Some people will cling to that hope, blinding themselves to reality
for a full generation," she said.
"Let me guess... Reality eventually hits them hard," he said.
She nodded, remaining silent.
He glanced over at her thoughtfully. "I have a question," he finally
said.
"What is it?"
"I hope this isn't too personal, but how do you endure the solitude
of your duty, being alone for centuries?" he asked.
"Well... I'm not sure I can answer that," she replied.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude," he said.
"No. That's not it," she said. "It's more a question of presenting
it to you in a way that you would be able to understand."
"I'm... not sure I follow you."
"Your normal state of existence is within the continuum of time. You
experience time as linear, with the past setting the scene for the
present, which leads to the future," she said.
"And your 'normal state of existence' is different?" he asked.
"Yes. You exist within time. When I am at the gateway, I am outside
time, which means I don't experience a passage of time in the way you
do," she explained.
He nodded, considering what she had said. "But that still doesn't
answer how you handle the solitary nature of your duty."
"It is just that. Duty," she said. "I have a special ability, which
gives me a special responsibility. Just as you have."
"Yes. I'm a fourth generation wizard. I grew up learning about the
Order, and the danger they posed," he said.
"So you willingly embraced that responsibility."
"That's right," he said. "But as you said, I have a special ability.
People like Esteban and his wife have no such special abilities. I've
always thought they were truly the brave ones."
"Just because they lack special abilities doesn't mean they have any
less desire to protect their world," she said. "Esteban knows what is at
stake just as well as you do. And you must admit, the Paladins could
accomplish very little if they had to rely solely on their wizards. You
are too few in number to do everything that needs to be done."
"True," he conceded. "Virtually everything we know about what is
happening in each of the combatant governments comes from mortals like
Esteban who happen to be in key positions."
"And those individuals are running a double risk," Setsuna pointed
out. "Not only is there the danger of being discovered by the Order, but
if their own government discovers them passing on information, especially
in war time, they would be condemned as spies."
He nodded.
Ahead of them was a grand manor house, set back behind a high wall.
It had been a city home for one of the sugar plantation owners. This
particular planter fled to Spain with the outbreak of the Spanish-
American War that brought about Cuban independence. The home went through
several owners before the Paladins purchased it as part of their casino
operation cover.
They stopped at the gate and rang the bell. A servant emerged from
the small gate house, while a spell scanned them. The servant opened the
gate, and they entered. The wall formed a perimeter for a highly
intricate magic field that effectively blocked intruders while at the
same time being very inconspicuous to all but the most deliberate efforts
to locate it.
As they reached the porch, he stopped, turning to look back up at
the night sky once more.
"Is anything wrong?" she asked.
He thought for a moment. "Once more, I have to hope I'm not
intruding, but I also have to wonder what sort of a risk you're taking? I
assume there's more to it than just stopping the Order from bringing
Metallia to Earth too soon."
"You know my particularly responsibility," she said. "I should think
that would make it fairly obvious."
"You must maintain the proper flow of time. I understand that. Peter
explained that that was what brought you here. But when you stopped the
attack on Princip and allowed him to murder the Archduke, you knew what
would happen, didn't you?"
"Yes," she answered quietly.
He turned to look at her, seeing her now staring vacantly off into
the distance. Understanding began to dawn on him as he recalled how often
it had been drilled into him in his apprenticeship that he must be
prepared to stand by and do nothing when others were in need in order to
protect the mission of the Paladins. He stepped toward her and laid a
hand gently on her shoulder. "You've always observed events from a
distance, standing at the gateway of time, and perhaps just making brief
interventions to keep things in order. But now, duty compels you to stay
involved until the Order is stopped."
"The Order *must* be stopped," she declared. "There is no power now
on Earth that can defeat Metallia if the Order should succeed."
"So I understand," he said. "But a war has just started, and the
Order has laid the groundwork over the last sixty years to make this one
particularly bloody. You've said the war must occur, so this time you
have to stay involved to make sure everything goes the way it's supposed
to."
She remained silent.
"Your concern is being able to suppress personal feelings when there
is so much death and destruction going on around you," he said. "I
understand some of what that's like. Every Paladin wizard faces the same
circumstances on a fairly regular basis."
"Thank you," she said. "But a certain degree of reserve is a
necessity for 'the solitary one', remember?"
"You can observe all periods in time from the gateway, right?"
"Yes, that's true," she said.
"Then at least part of your solitude is self-imposed, Setsuna," he
said.
"Perhaps. But it can also be something of a necessity, to avoid
becoming personally involved," she replied. "Good night, Daniel."
"Good night, Setsuna."
He watched as she walked inside, pulling the door closed behind her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It was August 25. Eric and Bernardo were on the outskirts of the
Belgian university town of Louvain, investigating a collection point.
They were joined by Heinrich, another mortal Paladin, who served as a
lieutenant in the German army.
"How is the fight going from your perspective?" Eric asked.
"Our superiors continue to insist victory is ours, but I have
noticed some of the orders have become more frantic," Heinrich replied.
"What about the men in your unit?" Eric asked.
"We remain very optimistic, although there is some frustration that
we haven't reached France yet. Our unit was very late in being called up.
But the hardest blow to morale are the reports of these damnable francs-
tireurs."
"Francs-tireurs?" Bernardo asked.
"Irregulars operating behind the lines, carrying out acts of
resistance and sabotage," Eric explained. "There are a number of stories
of francs-tireurs operating behind the German lines in the war of 1870."
Heinrich nodded with a distasteful scowl. "We've received more
warnings than I can count about francs-tireurs. Some of my men are so
jumpy because of it, that they shoot at shadows."
"The Belgian government insists that these were just army stragglers
returning to their units," Eric said.
"Indeed? I haven't had a direct encounter with any of the francs-
tireurs, but once we have been compelled to take military action, we have
the right to put down any acts of rebellion," Heinrich said.
"I thought you and comrades-in-arms were marching to fight the
French, not the Belgians," Bernardo said.
"The Belgians could, and should, have simply stood aside and allowed
us to march through to give France her just desserts," Heinrich insisted.
"Could you stand by if a foreign army marched through your home
region?" Eric asked. "Could your men?"
Heinrich fell silent for a moment. "No," he finally admitted. "They
would want to fight, and as an officer, it would be my duty to stand with
them."
"No doubt, many Belgians feel the same," Eric said.
"What do you do if you capture one of these francs-tireurs?"
Bernardo asked.
"Our orders are explicit. Saboteurs and those who rebel are to be
executed," Heinrich answered.
"What happens when those directly responsible for the sabotage
cannot be apprehended?" Bernardo asked.
"Then we must regretfully take action against those in the area who
have undoubtedly provided aid and comfort to these criminals," Heinrich
said.
"Reprisals," Eric said quietly.
"In time of war, we do not have the luxury of time for a full-scale
investigation, since our enemies will not stop their efforts while we
search for the true culprits," Heinrich declared. "We have to maintain
order, both for the safety of our soldiers and that of the civilians."
"Even if it means killing the innocent?" Bernardo persisted.
"No one is truly innocent in war," Heinrich said. "They've been told
not to resist. And in any case, I have my orders."
Eric raised an eyebrow ironically. " 'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd? Not tho' the soldier knew... Some one had
blunder'd: Their's not to make reply, Their's not to reason why..."
"Their's but to do and die: Into the valley of Death... Rode the six
hundred," Heinrich completed. "If ordered forward, my men and I are
prepared to go, as is any true son of the Fatherland. But I also can say
with confidence that no German officer would ever order such a damned
fool charge as that one."
"But fighting this war only serves the cause of the Order," Bernardo
objected.
"Then the Order must be made up of Frenchmen!" Heinrich said
angrily. "For that is the only way that defeating their plans could
require the destruction of Germany. That is what is at stake! Germany has
lived for years with a French knife at its throat. My duty to the Kaiser
is as strong as my duty to the Paladins. I cannot serve one while
betraying the other."
In the distance, a volley of gunfire could be heard, followed by the
boom of artillery. Heinrich jumped to his feet, just as a bugle began to
sound.
"I suspect that is a call for you," Eric said to Heinrich.
"Yes. I must go," Heinrich replied, shaking their hands. "I just
have one request."
"If it is within my power," Eric said.
"If my men and I should be killed in this war, please make certain
that our deaths do not help that demon," he said.
"Of course," Eric said. "God go with you."
"And with you both," Heinrich said, turning and rushing back into
town.
Eric and Bernardo made their way back to town on their own. In the
center of town, they found soldiers forming up, their officers hurrying
about anxiously.
The hoof beats of a horse at full gallop could be heard. "The French
are here! The British are here! The francs-tireurs are here!" the rider
yelled.
An officer motioned to the rider, who hurried over to deliver his
full report. A wave of unease swept through the soldiers as the warning
spread.
"This doesn't sound good," Eric muttered. "We'd better get out of
here." He directed Bernardo down a side street.
"Could the French or the British be mounting an attack this far into
Belgium, this soon?"
"No," Eric answered. "The sounds of gunfire are coming from the
north. That means it could only be the Belgians attacking, from their
stronghold around Antwerp... if it really is an attack."
" 'If it really is an attack'? You don't think this is a real
attack?"
"Let's say I have some doubts," Eric said. "First off, I don't think
the Belgian army is in a position to mount an offensive. Secondly, with
all due respect to Heinrich and his men, these are reserve divisions that
have never seen combat before."
"Which means what?"
"Heinrich already said his men were shooting at shadows. That could
well be what happened here. A patrol to the north saw something moving
and started shooting. By the time the message is relayed back here,
reports of a skirmish have been turned into a full-scale attack. And
inexperienced troops already on edge are thrown into a panic."
"We're not just going to leave these people to their fate, are we?"
Bernardo asked. "We know what the Germans have done to other towns.
Civilians have been massacred in the hundreds, with wide scale looting
and burning."
"There is nothing we can do. We must be like the guardian of time,
merely observing events but not interfering," Eric said.
"But we have the ability to save these people," Bernardo protested.
"Do we?" Eric countered. "And at what cost? What good would it serve
to save a few hundred people for several days if it alerted the Order
that we're on to them?"
"But we can't just stand by and do nothing!"
"We have our duty, Bernardo, even if it is unpleasant," Eric said.
"Ours is not to reason why..."
"Damn Tennyson!" Bernardo exclaimed, slamming his fist against the
wall in frustration. "How can you be so damn callous?"
Eric stopped and seized Bernardo's jacket, glaring at him sternly.
"Now, you listen! At the completion of your apprenticeship, you took an
oath that included the possibility of standing by when the mission of the
Paladins required it. If you're no longer willing to uphold that oath,
then you'd better inform the Council of that, and they'll see to it that
you're reassigned to tasks where you don't have to face this conflict.
It's your choice."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For three days, Louvain, the "Oxford of Belgium", suffered the wrath
of German retribution. The great library with its 230,000 volumes was
burned to ashes, as was much of the town with its treasures of art and
architecture. More than 200 people were killed, and some 42,000 evacuated
at gunpoint.
The American diplomat, Hugh Gibson, visited to see the situation,
which was already drawing loud condemnations internationally. Eric and
Bernardo slipped back into town in the guise of war correspondents
traveling with the ambassador. A German officer proudly conducted Gibson
through the town.
"We shall wipe it out. Not one stone shall stand upon another! Not
one, I tell you. We will teach them to respect Germany. For generations
people will come here to see what we have done!" the officer declared.
Gibson managed to maintain his diplomatic poker face, but, as they looked
over the burned out remains, Eric could sense Bernardo seething with
rage.
"There was nothing we could do," Eric said quietly.
"Really?!"
"Protecting them was not our responsibility," Eric said. "The
Belgian army couldn't protect them because they have been compelled to
withdraw. That leaves the obligation to the Germans, but there is nothing
we can do if the German commanders don't uphold that duty, just as
Heinrich is powerless to prevent his superiors from ordering him to
commit acts that violate international rules of warfare which Germany has
fully agreed to. If he refuses, he will be shot for refusing an order,
and replaced by someone who will do it. Nothing is gained."
"If humanity is capable of this, maybe it would be better to just
let Metallia win and be done with it all!" Bernardo said.
Eric slapped him hard across the face. "I don't want to hear another
word like that! We Paladins exist to defend the right of ordinary people
to live their lives as they see fit. We're not here to judge them, nor to
try to protect them from themselves."
"But when innocent people are being slaughtered..."
"There is nothing we can do that will make it any better," Eric said
sternly. "And we don't have the right to play God. That's the Order's
way, not ours."
"So, now what do we do?" Bernardo asked sullenly.
"We maintain our cover as reporters, and leave with the ambassador's
party. Then we report back what we've found."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In the Paladins' base beneath the Havana casino, on the afternoon of
September 2, Daniel, Setsuna, and Esteban were joined by Peter, Samuel,
Eric, and Albert. A large map of Europe was spread out on the center
table, with small glowing points of energy indicating the position of the
armies and all of the collection points they had identified. Photographs
and stacks of papers were piled on surrounding tables, while several more
localized maps were posted on an upright board.
"The current situation is mixed, to say the least," Samuel informed
the others. "The German advance seems to be moving forward quite
effectively, but the inherent weaknesses in their strategy remain."
"On both fronts, early difficulties have been overcome," Albert
added. "In the East, the Austro-Hungarians are proving largely
ineffective, but this was expected. The Russians moved up their forces
much more quickly than had been anticipated, and launched a major
offensive into East Prussia. The Germans, though significantly
outnumbered, had the advantage of far better field command, throwing the
Russians back in complete disarray. One of the Russian generals chose
suicide over going back to face the Tsar in disgrace."
Samuel picked up several sheets of paper, stepped forward, and
resumed the narrative. "In the West, the Germans, as you all know, became
hung up among the Belgian forts, but once they brought up heavy siege
artillery to break apart the forts, weight of numbers prevailed, forcing
the Belgians to fall back to the port of Antwerp. The French, for their
part, launched into their own plan, and marched into Alsace and Lorraine.
That offensive quickly fell apart, however, as the shape of the German
advance through Belgium became clear." He nodded to Albert, while waving
a hand over the table.
"As you can see," Albert said. "The Germans began their sweeping
movement through Belgium." The table was now showing the progression of
that sweep. "The French began to redeploy, but failed to appreciate the
full extent of the German movement. Furthermore, the French command had
early on rejected the notion that the Germans would deploy their reserve
at the opening of the offensive. The result has been that the French
consistently find themselves outnumbered and outflanked. Despite this,
the French have had numerous occasions where circumstances have favored
the defense, but their commanders have failed to exploit these."
Eric stepped forward. "I can confirm some of that. The Germans are
moving just as fast as they can, sweeping the French before them. On both
sides, you see only utter exhaustion, as men and horses have been driven
on for days and weeks without any rest."
"Many of the French units have effectively broken, and are simply in
outright flight. Only the fact that the Germans are advancing just as
fast preserves the illusion that the French army is intact," Albert said.
"Is there any good news for the Allied side?" Peter asked.
"Yes," Samuel answered. "The British Expeditionary Force. Though
made up of only one cavalry and four infantry divisions, it is the only
all professional force on the continent. All of these men are experienced
soldiers who have volunteered to serve king and country, and many of
their officers have been under hostile fire before. In the defense of the
Mons-Conde Canal, the BEF held off a considerably larger force of the
German First Army, with the British rifles and superior marksmanship
exacting a devastating toll against the German infantry. The BEF
commander, Sir John French, made clear his intent to hold his ground, and
could have blocked the German right wing, but the decision of General
Lanrezac to withdraw his French Fifth Army from its positions on the
BEF's right forced Field Marshal French to pull back."
"General Joffre, the head of the French Army, has been assembling
every unit he can lay his hands on in front of Paris, at just the point
where the German attack will happen to be at its weakest," Albert said.
"Joffre's hope is that he will have a mass of force available to throw
into any weak point in the German line he can identify."
"But he was handed a potential complication from Sir John French,"
Samuel added. "French had completely lost confidence in the French
ability to fight, and began insisting that he must withdraw the BEF
either south of Paris, or back to England, for extensive reinforcement."
"How did Joffre handle this?" Esteban asked.
"He didn't, at least not directly," Samuel said. "Joffre informed
the French Prime Minister, Rene Viviani, who expressed his serious
concerns to London, bringing a response from Lord Kitchener, the
Secretary of State for War. In a series of telegrams, Kitchener demanded
an explanation from French. When none came, he hurried to Paris and
summoned French to the British embassy, where he laid down the law to the
BEF commander, making it absolutely clear that the BEF was there to
support their French allies to the fullest extent."
"And that brings us essentially up to date," Albert said. "The
German advance continues, basically on momentum alone, and steadily
outrunning its lines of supply, while the French and British are massing
for a counter-attack."
"Right," said Peter. "And now that we know the front is approaching
Paris, we know that a number of new collection points will be activated."
Samuel nodded and moved over to one of the smaller maps, showing a
larger scale of the area immediately around Paris. Several red points
formed around the city. "These are the prime suspects."
"Daniel and Setsuna, we need you to check these out, and if they
really are collection points, to plant a monitor there," Peter said.
"We've already placed monitors on several of the collection points
farther north, and with these, we should be able to triangulate the
location of the storage center the energy is being sent to."
"I think we can manage that," Setsuna said.
"When do we leave?" Daniel asked.
"As soon as possible," Peter said.
"But use caution," Samuel added. "You'll be in a restricted area.
And the French constitution gives General Joffre, as military commander-
in-chief, virtually absolute authority in the designated 'zone of the
armies.' Not even the President of the Republic can overrule him. Our
contacts in the French government won't be able to acknowledge you."
"We understand," Daniel said.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next afternoon, Daniel and Setsuna crossed an open field, both
cloaked from mortal detection. In the distance, the sound of artillery
fire could be heard.
"Just up here," she said quietly, pointing ahead of them.
He nodded, following her. They found an old barn foundation, now
largely overgrown. As she stood at the edge of the foundation, he moved
around to the other side.
"This is definitely it," he said, moving back to her.
"Yes," she agreed. "We need to plant the monitor."
"Any suggestions?"
"I would think we could conceal it behind one of these old
foundation stones," she said.
He pulled back one of the stones, then dug out a small space behind
it. He then placed the small metal object in the space he had made,
before putting the stone back in place.
She stood there, examining the energies around her. "It's
transmitting properly," she said.
"Good. Let's move on. We still want to set a monitor on at least one
more site," he said.
"Right," she agreed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
That night, Setsuna and Daniel were hunched over a table in their
Paris hotel suite.
"Any luck with locating the storage center?" he asked.
She drew out lines on a map with a pencil and ruler that ran south
and east from Paris. "We know the general direction," she said. "But the
collection sites here are too close together. We won't be able to
accurately locate the storage center until we have the directional
information from the collection centers we're monitoring in Belgium and
northern France."
Daniel wrote the compass headings in his notebook, then checked the
readings from the collection point monitors, making notes of those.
"These sites are already collecting a considerable amount of energy," he
said.
"Yes. The front is moving steadily south, so they have more and more
energy to collect."
He wrote some more notes in his book, then closed it and strapped it
with a rubber band.
"Well, it looks like we may soon have some definite information on
this," he said with a smile.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
On September 3, General Alexander von Kluck was ordered to lead the
German First Army "in echelon" with General Karl von Bulow's Second Army
in order to cut the French off from Paris. Kluck, whose army formed the
German right flank, choose to follow his orders literally, sweeping wide
to follow the retreating French Fifth Army across the Marne River. Two
days later, as Kluck continued to drift wide to the right, Joffre had
assembled a mass of force totaling 36 divisions in the area north of
Paris, against less than thirty German divisions moving, for the most
part, south and east.
The German chief of staff, Moltke, now ordered a reversal of the
Schlieffen plan, abandoning the notion of an encirclement by First and
Second Armies on the right wing. Instead, Kluck and Bulow were to stand
on the defensive, while the armies on the left tried to close a trap.
This played right into Joffre's hands.
On the morning of September 5, the 4th Reserve Corps covering
Kluck's exposed flank encountered elements of the French Sixth Army.
Deciding this posed a threat to the German flank, the corps commander,
General von Gronau, ordered an attack, further stretching Kluck's line to
the west as Kluck transferred additional units to bolster his flank. The
cost of this decision was to widen the already broad gap that had opened
between Kluck and Bulow.
Into this gap marched the British Expeditionary Force. Though still
doubtful of the French Army's staying power, Field Marshal Sir John
French, in an emotional meeting with Joffre, had promised "all man can do
our fellows will do." The British attack sent alarm through the staffs of
both Kluck and Bulow, their respective armies already heavily engaged
with French forces and unable to spare enough troops to counter the BEF
and close the gap.
On September 6, Bulow notified Moltke that he was compelled to fall
back some ten miles to behind the Petit Morin River to seek more secure
positions. This further widened the gap, giving the BEF and the French
units hastily moving up in support a virtually clear road to the Marne
River. Kluck was now still north of the Marne, while Bulow was south of
it but falling back. Bulow's withdrawal threatened now to open another
gap, this one on his left, where he was supposed to be connected to
General von Hausen's Third Army. Kluck's First Army still advanced,
enjoying an advantage of force against the French Sixth Army facing it.
However, with the BEF advancing almost unopposed and Bulow falling back,
Kluck's position was growing increasingly precarious. Though locally
Kluck saw advantages, the German General Staff, looking at the overall
situation, came to the conclusion that the positions of First, Second,
and Third Armies could not be held against the Franco-British attack. As
the General Staff review was underway, Bulow strongly recommended a
withdrawal, even beginning to pull Second Army back still further on his
own initiative. This decision forced the hands of Kluck and Hausen,
compelling them to pull back as well. The formal order from Moltke soon
followed, and the entire German line began an orderly retreat. Moltke was
relieved of command on September 14, but his last order to the German
armies was one of the most important, directing the German line to
withdraw to the Aisne River and its tributaries, which were to be
"fortified and defended." As the British and French advanced in pursuit,
they would find the Germans securely dug in.
< To be continued >
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Always remember, good gentles, that a yarnspinner works from and within
existing legends and stories. The characters of "Sailor Moon" belong to
others. In spinning my yarns, I do not seek to infringe on their rights
of ownership, but merely to join with other fans to spread the legend
still further. "The moonlight carries a message of love." Enjoy.
-01.11.2001
(
geocities.com/tokyo)