Advance on Mulhouse—Unopposed entry—Popular 77 rejoicings—German counter-attack—Smallness of French force—Their repulse—Terrorism—Harsh treatment of foreigners—Reorganization of French under General Pau—Second advance on Mulhouse—Battle round the town—Victory of the French—Second occupation began CHAPTER IX MORHANGE Description of the Vosges—French advance—Triumphs in 88 Lorraine—The check at Morhange—Why the French fell into the trap—The disaster—New birth of the army—Bad news—The offensive abandoned CHAPTER X GENERAL DUBAIL’S STAND Combination of reverses for France—Soldiers’ ignorance of 100 contemporary events—Reliance on barrier of fortresses—Determination to fight in the open—Different conditions—Position after Morhange—German advance—Trouée de Charmes—Epinal—Vesouze, Mortagne, and Meurthe—Brave resistance of Dubail’s army—The reverse of the picture—The terrorists’ _Credo_—Condemnation of frightfulness—An example—The German excuse CHAPTER XI THE MARTYRED TOWN Gerbéviller—Visit with M. Mirman—The ruins—Murder of old 114 men—How the town was taken—Incendiarism—Sœur Julie—An act of “sacrilege”—Other martyred towns—Badonviller—The first occupation—The second—Fight in the streets—St. Benoit—Col de la Chipotte CHAPTER XII BATTLE OF THE GRAND COURONNÉ. I The battle of the Grand Couronné—Two parts—The position 125 south of the Meurthe—Transport of Dragoon regiment from Alsace—Arrival at Charmes—Towards Lunéville—Procession of fugitives—Description of field of battle—South and north of Meurthe up to Nancy-Lunéville road—General Bigot’s divisions—Retreat of the XVth and XVIth Army Corps—General retreat—Lunéville abandoned—Position of XXth Army Corps—The troops from the south reformed—A miracle—The battle begins—Germans cross Mortagne and Meurthe—A battle symphony—Across the field of battle—Scenes of desolation—The battle continued—German attack checked—Retreat turned into advance—The XVth Army Corps leaves for the Argonne—Their regeneration CHAPTER XIII BATTLE OF THE GRAND COURONNÉ. II Nancy, the woman-town—Absence of fortifications—Attitude of 141 her defenders—The pivot of the line—Kaiser’s dreams of conquest—Description of four German lines of attack—Of the country—General de Castelnau’s line—Champenoux villages—Réméréville—Farms and cottages—Loopholed blockhouses—The wounded—The refugees—Account of Nomeny—German brutality—Rottenness of German civilization—Germany’s future—Inspiration of soldiers of Lorraine—The part of the women—A woman’s letter