Good article, and I agree- fine last line.
I haven't studied the events in detail, so stop me if this is a foolish question- but is there anything to the idea of the Germans getting encircled at the Marne and being driven back towards the border?
I wonder if a severe enough shock- it would probably need to be combined with the Russians not suffering their catastrophic defeats in the East- could bring the Germans to the table.
It would be an interesting scenario if the Entente 'won' the War of 1914, which would be immediately followed by Russia and Britain wondering what they needed the alliance for now....