Paris, Aug. 22.
It is just three weeks since the general mobilization of the French army was ordered and the people of this country realized that the day of settling the long open account with Germany was at hand. To-day's news is that the Germans have occupied Brussels, which the Belgians made no attempt to defend, and have levied a war indemnity of eight millions sterling on the capital. By what methods they Propose to extort this huge sum we know nothing at present. We are told that they are leaving only a small force in Brussels and are pressing northwards to attack Antwerp. The attack on Antwerp is one of those colossal, spectacular ideas such as we are accustomed to expect from the Kaiser, but its riskines needs no demonstration, and from what I can hear it has filled the French general staff with delight.
In the south, Upper Alsace, the French have scored several suecesses which, on reflexion, appear to he rather more showy than substan-They made a dash at Mul-house, held it for a day or two, retired, made another advance in greater force, took the town again after a hard fight, and have now forced part of the enemy to cross the Rhine. The sum and substance of it is that, in this part of the theatre of war, they are more thoo holding their own.
Was Mulhouse a Mistake?
Reading between the lines of the official communiques, however, I observe hints that there is an expectation of a German attack and occupation of Nancy, when the Germans have concentrated a sufficient number of men. There has never been any intention, however, of defending this town. It is a sacrificed pawn in the great game. Another fact not mentioned in the official communications is that the French commander who was responsible for the premature advance on Mulhouse has been recalled in disgrace and transferred to ® command in the reserve. His place is now held by a one-armed veteran, General Pau, who served in the last Franco-German war as a young lieutenant.
For a man of his age, such a heavy responsibility must be more than trying. but at any rate he has the confidence of the troops and is very Popular. It is clear, too, that the French troops maintain their traditions of personal bravery and dash, and that the Germans are unable to withstand bayonet attacks. It i of course, possible that this state of things may change as the German troops become more seasoned. The French have had o certain amount of experience of colonial warfare which, added to their naturs, makes them decidedly formidable in close Sghting, while the Germans have not had this advantage.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.