FALL OF MAUBEUGE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1789, 7 November 1919, Page 11

FALL OF MAUBEUGE.

TRIAL OF GENERAL FOURNIER. By Cahle. — Press Association. — Copyriyht. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Wee. Nov. 7, 1.5) PARIS, Nov. 5. The trial has begun of General Fournier, on a charge of surrendering Maubeuge without exhausting the means of defence. Seven generals comprise the Court, and the prosecutor and the five witnesses are also generals.

[When the Germans invaded Northern France in 1914 the sth French Army, under General Lanrczac nn<l General dc Cury, fell hack, having, as was supposed, ample protection for their flanks in the fortresses of Northern France, including Maubeuge. In spite of the fact, however, that these fortresses had been greatly strengthened, their capture proved an easy task to the invaders, who swept past them in a few days. As a flank protection, therefore, Maubeuge proved of no utility. Eight olficers have been arraigned with General Fournier, charged with complicity.]