Now, since I'm rusty I've played the military phase of turn one here multiple times, getting back into the swing of the game. However, I've noticed that France is basically thumbing their noses at the mandatory attacks. Most times they make a single attack in the South, either Morhange or Collmar (sp..). Sometimes neither, never more than one. The other armies with red flags don't appear to move or anything, they just sit.
Then turn two, still with mandatory attacks, they typically abandon the second to bottom territory down there (has a fort, one above the one that borders Switzerland), and may or may not do one attack, again most armies just sit.
Does the AI get a pass on these in the latest versions? I remember my last campaign, 1.06 something, they had me holding by the skin of my teeth, making 3-4 attacks each of the first two turns. Have to admit, I really miss that right now, feels more like Fall 1939 on that border than Summer 1914. The most dangerous thing the troops down there are facing is splinters from the picnic baskets.
FWIW: I had AI Aggression on max, difficulty on 4. Playing WEGO if that matters. Read that in the opening the AI tends to be more aggressive. I guess that's a very subjective statement though.
