The inaction of the adversary, engaged on the Eastern front in a series of operations of which he had not foreseen the difficulties, and thus reduced to the defensive on our front, left the initiative of the operations in our hands. The landing in France of fresh British troops enabled Marshal French to take upon himself the defence of a portion of the lines hitherto held by French troops. The improvement of our defensive organizations, which made possible certain economies in the effectives, the regrouping of units and the creation of new units, also had the effect of placing a larger number of men at the disposal of the Generalissimo. The increased output of war _materiel_ ensured him the necessary means for a complete artillery preparation. [Sidenote: Joffre's appeal to the troops.] Among all the elements of success which were thus united at the end of the summer of 1915, not the least was the incomparable individual worth of the French soldier. It was to the traditional warlike qualities of the race that the Generalissimo appealed when, on September 23, 1915, he addressed to the troops the following general order, which was read to the regiments by their officers: "SOLDIERS OF THE REPUBLIC "After months of waiting, which have enabled us to increase our forces and our resources, while the adversary has been using up his own, the hour has come to attack and conquer and to add fresh glorious pages to those of the Marne and Flanders, the Vosges and Arras. "Behind the whirlwind of iron and fire let loose, thanks to the factories of France, where your brothers have, night and day, worked for us, you will proceed to the attack, all together, on the whole front, in close union with the armies of our Allies. [Sidenote: The spirit of the soldier.] "Your _elan_ will be irresistible. It will carry you at a bound up to the batteries of the adversary, beyond the fortified lines which he has placed before you. "You will give him neither pause nor rest until victory has been achieved. "Set to with all your might for the deliverance of the soil of la Patrie, for the triumph of justice and liberty. "J. JOFFRE." The description of the operations in Champagne will show under what conditions our troops acquitted themselves of the task assigned to them, and also the value and significance of this success, without precedent in the war of positions in which we are at present engaged. [Sidenote: The German line that was broken.]