▁attack ▁into ▁Als ace ▁would ▁begin ▁the ▁re dem ption ▁of ▁the ▁lost ▁provinces ▁and ▁demonstrate ▁to ▁Russia ▁that ▁the ▁French ▁army ▁was ▁fighting ▁the ▁common ▁enemy . ▁B onne au ▁reported ▁a ▁large ▁concentration ▁of ▁German ▁troops ▁in ▁the ▁area ▁and ▁recommended ▁delay ▁but ▁J off re ▁over - ru led ▁him ▁and ▁ordered ▁the ▁attack ▁to ▁commence . ▁J off re ▁issued ▁General ▁Order ▁No . ▁ 1 ▁on ▁ 8 ▁August , ▁in ▁which ▁the ▁operation ▁by ▁VII ▁Corps ▁was ▁to ▁pin ▁down ▁the ▁German ▁forces ▁opposite ▁and ▁to ▁attract ▁res erves ▁away ▁from ▁the ▁main ▁off ensive ▁further ▁north . ▁ ▁Battle ▁ ▁A ▁few ▁border ▁sk irm ishes ▁took ▁place ▁after ▁the ▁declaration ▁of ▁war ▁and ▁German ▁reconna issance ▁pat rol s ▁found ▁that ▁the ▁French ▁had ▁a ▁chain ▁of ▁front ier ▁posts , ▁supported ▁by ▁larger ▁fort ified ▁positions ▁further ▁back . ▁After ▁ 5 ▁August , ▁more ▁pat rol s ▁were ▁sent ▁out ▁as ▁French ▁troops ▁advanced ▁from ▁G ér ard mer ▁to ▁the ▁Col ▁de ▁la ▁Schl ucht ▁( Sch l ucht ▁Pass ), ▁where ▁the ▁Germ ans ▁retre ated ▁and ▁ble w ▁up ▁the ▁tunnel . ▁J off re ▁had ▁directed ▁the ▁First ▁and ▁Second ▁arm ies ▁to ▁eng age ▁as ▁many ▁German ▁divisions ▁as ▁possible ▁to ▁assist ▁French ▁forces ▁operating ▁further ▁north . ▁The ▁French ▁VII ▁Corps ▁( General ▁Louis ▁B onne au ) ▁with ▁the ▁ 1 4 th ▁Division ▁( General ▁Louis ▁Cur é ), ▁the ▁ 4 1 st ▁Division