From the nearest point on the German boundary to Paris is only one hundred and seventy miles.  But no rapid invasion of France could be made in this direction for two reasons:  first, because of the very strong forts which protected the French frontier; and second, on account of the nature of the land, which presents to the east a series of five easily defended ridges, each of which would have to be stormed by an invader.  A German attack directly across the French frontier could move but slowly past these natural and military obstacles; and the French nation would have ample time to mobilize its forces.

Consequently the German military leaders determined to attack France from the northeast.  Here a comparatively level plain stretched from Germany through Belgium and France up to Paris itself.  Many good roads and railways traversed the land.  Few natural barriers existed to aid the defenders, and France, trusting to the neutrality of Belgium, had no strong fortifications on her northeastern frontier.  One obstacle to German invasion existed; it was what the German Chancellor once[2] called “a scrap of paper”—­a promise to respect the neutrality of Belgium, which Prussia, France, and England had agreed to by formal treaties.  Similar treaties guaranteed the neutrality of Luxemburg, a small country east of Belgium.  Upon these promises France had depended for the protection of her northeastern border; for the German Empire had accepted all the rights and all the duties of the treaties made by Prussia.  But now, under the plea of necessity which “knows no law,” the German rulers determined to break their promises, violate the neutrality of Belgium and Luxemburg, and crush France before an aroused and alarmed world could interfere.

BELGIUM BLOCKS THE GERMAN PLAN.—­The invasion of Belgium had two results which the Germans had not foreseen.  In the first place, it brought Great Britain immediately into the war to the aid of Belgium and France.  In the second place, the Belgian king and people refused to be bought off with a promise of compensation; they made the high decision to defend their country as long as possible against the terrible German army-machine.  Said the Belgian king:  “A country which defends itself commands the respect of all; that country cannot perish.”  This action of Belgium disarranged the German army plans; instead of reaching Paris according to schedule, the Germans were delayed in Belgium for ten days.  These ten days were full of horror and suffering and defeat for the brave Belgians; but they are precious days in the light of history.  They gave time for the French to mobilize their armies and bring them up to the northeast; and they enabled Great Britain to send across the English Channel her first hundred thousand troops.  In this way Paris was saved from capture, and France from conquest; and probably the whole world from German domination.  The German plans for world conquest met their first defeat at the hands of brave little Belgium.  The would-be conquerors had forgotten to include in their time-table the elements of honor, patriotism, and self-sacrifice.