The Great Retreat 139 recognized the failure and was preparing for the alternative move. It was at this moment that Paris made final preparations for a second siege, that the French government retired to Bordeaux, that the story of the Allied disaster filled the press of the world. Hostile and neutral journals alike paid full tribute to the wonderful courage, determination, persist- ence of the Germans, Their General Staff had outgeneralled the French, their men had certainly carried all before them despite staggering losses. The first and perhaps the real crisis of the European war was now at hand, and the great puzzle was whether despite huge losses, tremendous efforts and the terrific wastage of war, the German soldiers still had strength left to deal another blow as Bliicher's Prussians did at Waterloo. Happily for the French they now had English steadiness with them.