German rulers determined to break their promises, violate the neutrality
of Belgium and Luxemburg, and crush France before an aroused and alarmed
world could interfere.

BELGIUM BLOCKS THE GERMAN PLAN.--The invasion of Belgium had two
results which the Germans had not foreseen. In the first place, it
brought Great Britain immediately into the war to the aid of Belgium
and France. In the second place, the Belgian king and people refused to
be bought off with a promise of compensation; they made the high
decision to defend their country as long as possible against the
terrible German army-machine. Said the Belgian king: "A country which
defends itself commands the respect of all; that country cannot perish."
This action of Belgium disarranged the German army plans; instead of
reaching Paris according to schedule, the Germans were delayed in
Belgium for ten days. These ten days were full of horror and suffering
and defeat for the brave Belgians; but they are precious days in the
light of history. They gave time for the French to mobilize their armies
and bring them up to the northeast; and they enabled Great Britain to
send across the English Channel her first hundred thousand troops. In
this way Paris was saved from capture, and France from conquest; and
probably the whole world from German domination. The German plans for
world conquest met their first defeat at the hands of brave little
Belgium. The would-be conquerors had forgotten to include in their
time-table the elements of honor, patriotism, and self-sacrifice.

[Illustration: THE WESTERN FRONT 1914]

THE GERMAN ADVANCE.--Luxemburg was occupied without resistance, for
that little country had no army. On August 4, 1914, the German armies
attacked the Belgian fortress of Liege (lee-ĕzh´), and within