1 9 1 4 . ▁The ▁Battle ▁of ▁Mul house ▁( B attle ▁of ▁Als ace ▁) ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁French ▁off ensive ▁against ▁Germany . ▁The ▁French ▁captured ▁Mul house ▁until ▁forced ▁out ▁by ▁a ▁German ▁counter - att ack ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁August ▁and ▁fell ▁back ▁toward ▁B elf ort . ▁The ▁main ▁French ▁off ensive , ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Lor raine ▁, ▁began ▁with ▁the ▁Batt les ▁of ▁Mor h ange ▁and ▁Sar re bourg ▁() ▁adv ances ▁by ▁the ▁First ▁Army ▁on ▁Sar re bourg ▁and ▁the ▁Second ▁Army ▁towards ▁Mor h ange . ▁Ch âteau - Sal ins ▁near ▁Mor h ange ▁was ▁captured ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁August ▁and ▁Sar re bourg ▁the ▁next ▁day . ▁The ▁German ▁ 6 th ▁Army ▁and ▁ 7 th ▁Army ▁counter - att ack ed ▁on ▁ 2 0 ▁August ▁and ▁the ▁Second ▁Army ▁was ▁forced ▁back ▁from ▁Mor h ange ▁and ▁the ▁First ▁Army ▁was ▁rep uls ed ▁at ▁Sar re bourg . ▁The ▁German ▁arm ies ▁crossed ▁the ▁border ▁and ▁advanced ▁on ▁Nancy ▁but ▁were ▁stopped ▁to ▁the ▁east ▁of ▁the ▁city . ▁ ▁To ▁the ▁south ▁the ▁French ▁re to ok ▁Mul house ▁on ▁ 1 9 ▁August ▁and ▁then ▁with d rew . ▁On ▁ 2 4 ▁August ▁at ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁the ▁Mort agne ▁ ▁a ▁limited ▁German ▁off ensive ▁in ▁the ▁V os ges , ▁the ▁Germ ans ▁managed ▁a ▁small ▁advance , ▁before ▁a ▁French ▁counter - att ack ▁re to ok