CHAPTER XIV BATTLE OF THE GRAND COURONNÉ. III The attack on Nancy from the north—St. Généviève—The 155 assault—How it was repulsed—The attack from the east—Dombasle—Courbesseau—Réméréville—Soldiers’ disregard of fire—In Champagne—French disadvantages in Lorraine—Their gallantry—Individualism—Main attack from north-east—Attack on plateau of Amance—September 8th—Importance of the date—What it meant to the Kaiser—Final assault on Amance—Relations between Battle of the Marne and Battle of the Grand Couronné—Bombardment of Nancy—The German retreat—Last struggle in Champenoux—Losses of the victors—Their graves—The horror of the horizon—The reassurance of the front CHAPTER XV LUNÉVILLE Effect of Battle of the Grand Couronné on Lunéville—Extent 178 of damage in the town—Entry of Germans—Familiar faces—M. Minier, M. Mequillet, M. Keller—Faubourg d’Einville burnt—German Governor’s proclamation—Hostages—Plight of inhabitants—Outside the town—The turn of the tide—France and Germany—A duel to the death—Last fights before the town—German bestiality—General Joffre’s message—The last advance—French enter the town—Restored to France CHAPTER XVI NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS After the storm—A Prefect’s duties—Newspaper 193 correspondents—War a serious matter—Enemy’s means of information—On the battlefield—“Behind the front”—German dread of newspapers—Their own—French and British—The truth concealed—In Belgium—Effect in neutral Switzerland—Change of opinion due to knowledge of state of _internés_—Confidence of M. Mirman—_The Times_ an agent for good—Expulsion from Nancy—Hopes of return CHAPTER XVII A DAY WITH A PREFECT A Conseil de Révision—Comparison with English 205 recruiting—French boys’ enthusiasm—Their experience of terrorism—A greybeard—The Mayors of Lorraine—A war to kill war—Lunch at the Préfecture—Through the French army—At the front—A deserted village—Towards Nomeny—A check—Retreat—M. Puech—A souvenir—French sang-froid CHAPTER XVIII THE ATTACK ON THE RIVER FORTS Position after Battle of the Grand Couronné—German failures 218 reviewed—Mystery of Manonviller—Position of Toul—Of the barrier of fortresses—Description of the Woevre—Troyon—The first bombardment—German demand for surrender—The attacking force—Relief from Toul—The attack abandoned—Renewed bombardment of the river forts—Formation of the St. Mihiel triangle CHAPTER XIX THE “SOIXANTE-QUINZE”