The Trap Has Sprung

August 21, 1914

Since the first foray of the German Army into Luxembourg, the dominoes have been falling, almost as if it was preordained.  Belgium's King Albert, most courageously, has defied the German sugar coated offer of "no harm -  no foul" regarding a violation of Belgium's national borders and has begun ordering the blowing up of bridges and railroad lines to hinder the German advance.  He also mobilizes his small army.   The German violation, which the allies have been waiting for, unavoidably brings Great Britain in on the side of France and Russia and against Germany and Austria-Hungary.  The British Expeditionary Force (BEF), is also small, but is composed of some of the best trained and best equipped infantry soldiers in the world.  It's field commander, Sir John French, is told that, at all costs, the BEF must not be put at risk, since it is composed of the lion's share of Britian's effective military force.  The BEF takes its place at the far western end of the allies line of defense, facing Germany's most rapidly moving advance guard.

The western front extends along 400 miles, from the English Channel eastward along the northern border of France to the Alsatian frontier with Germany and bending southward from there.  The French Army, based on their Plan XVII, are attacking the Germans near the disputed Alsace/Lorraine region and the German army is proving equal to the task of keeping them out.  The more important action is shaping up at the farthest west end of the front, where Germany from Belgium, is attempting to quickly outflank the French Army.  None of the supreme military commands has seen fit to modify their guiding spirit of "forward to victory"... yet.