I told him what I knew of the German propaganda in America, and he listened intently.

“What is its effect?  Is it influencing public opinion?”

“It did so undeniably for a time.  But I believe it is not doing so much now.  For one thing, Germany’s methods on the sea will neutralise all her agents can say in her favour—­that and the relaxation of the restrictions against the press, so that something can be known of what the Allies are doing.”

“You have known very little?”

“Absurdly little.”

There was some feeling in my tone, and he smiled.

“We wish to have America know the splendid spirit of the French Army,” he said after a moment.  “And the justice of its cause also.”

I asked him what he thought of the future.

“There is no question about the future,” he said with decision.  “That is already settled.  When the German advance was checked it was checked for good.”

“Then you do not believe that they will make a further advance toward Paris?”

“Certainly not.”

He went on to explain the details of the battle of the Marne, and how in losing that battle the invading army had lost everything.

It will do no harm to digress for a moment and explain exactly what the French did at the battle of the Marne.

All through August the Allies fell back before the onward rush of the Germans.  But during all that strategic retreat plans were being made for resuming the offensive again.  This necessitated an orderly retreat, not a rout, with constant counter-engagements to keep the invaders occupied.  It necessitated also a fixed point of retreat, to be reached by the different Allied armies simultaneously.

When, on September fifth, the order for assuming the offensive was given, the extreme limit of the retreat had not yet been reached.  But the audacity of the German march had placed it in a position favourable for attack, and at the same time extremely dangerous for the Allies and Paris if they were not checked.

On the evening of September fifth General Joffre sent this message to all the commanders of armies: 

“The hour has come to advance at all costs, and do or die where you stand rather than give way.”

The French did not give way.  Paris was saved after a colossal battle, in which more than two million men were engaged.  The army commanded by General Foch was at one time driven back by overwhelming odds, but immediately resumed the offensive, and making a flank attack forced the Germans to retreat.

Not that he mentioned his part in the battle of the Marne.  Not that any member of his staff so much as intimated it.  But these are things that get back.

“How is America affected by the war?”

I answered as best I could, telling him something of the paralysis it had caused in business, of the war tax, and of our anxiety as to the status of our shipping.