This retirement imposes a regrettably necessary decision on
the President of the Republic and the Government. To protect
national safety the government officials have to leave Paris
at once.
Under the command of an eminent leader, a French army, full
of bravery and resource, will defend the capital and its
people against the invader. But at the same time war will
be carried on over the rest of the territory.
The small notice was from General Gallieni, the new Governor of Paris.
It had, in its brevity, the beauty of an ancient inscription:
"I have been ordered to defend Paris. I shall obey this
command until the end."
That same Sunday, the thirtieth of August, was the first day the
Taubes came over Paris. By chance I was guarding one of the city's
gates. I saw the airplane coming from a distance. I had not the least
doubt about it for it had the silhouette of a bird of prey that
rendered the German planes so easily recognizable at that time. For
that matter, no one was deceived by it, and from all the batteries,
forts and other positions a violent fusillade greeted it. There was
firing from the streets, windows, courts and roofs. I followed it
through my field glass, and for a moment I thought it had been hit,
for it paused in its flight.
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