The Washington times., 1914-10-29
ON USER AND NISTULA.

There is reason to suspect that the
limit of German offensive, east and
west, has been reached at the Wis.,
tula and the User, or Iser, rivers.
The Germans reorganized plan OF
campaign would appear to have in
volved the occupation of Warsaw at
the east and of the channel ports in
the west, before the close Of the au-
tumn movements. On neither flank
has the plan been executed.
Not to advance, in the circum-
stances surrounding their campaign.
is, for the Germans, to suffer de-
feat. To take Warsaw would have
been a great victory. 1t would have
given them great military advant-
age; while occupation of the channel
ports would have had certainly a
sentimental value, and perhaps a
larger military Importance than
seems apparent.
But Berlin today admits a dis
tinct reverse in the east. 1t is ad-
mitted in terms quite as direct and
unqualified as those that were en-
ployed in the belated confession OF
the retreat from the Marine. Indeed,
comparing the Berlin treatment OF
the two affairs, it would appear that
the German general staff has decid-
ed to be somewhat more frank in its
announcements about military re-
suits, or else it regards the defeat in
the east more seriously than it did
that on the Marine.
To appreciate the measure of Ger
man reverses thus far in the war it
is necessary to consider what was
the very evident expectation OF the
Berlin war Office at the beginning Of
the advance through Belgium. Paris
was to be seized within a month.
France would be at the conqueror.s
feet before it could prepare for an
effective resistance, and before Great
Britain could do anything effective
toward helping it. After that, the
British army would not have to be
taken seriously. Even If a British
army could be pieced together, it
would not be brought to bear on the
French fields in time to be Of use.
The French were to be destroyed
first; then the eastward rush would
be pressed on at least to Warsaw be-
fore winter, Britain would be SO
isolated that it could not be made an
effective factor; and peace would be
dictated on Germany's terms.
But instead of holding Paris and
having the British elbowed out OF
range, Berlin finds herself with SONS
400 miles Of army frontage strung
through the eastern and western
areas of fighting, confronting the
forces that her enemies have had
three months to raise and put in TIE
field. She is probably outnumbereo
on both wings Of the war stage. HeI
enemies are at the point where they
will for a long time be able to in;
crease their forces at the hveliest
rate, while Germany is reported
bringing up the youngest and the
Oldest troops of the reserve lines
With the defeat in the east, whose
seriousness will probably be made
more apparent as the days pass, the
Germans may fairly be regarded al
being placed on the defensive a
both fronts. Nominally they are still
the aggressors in the west; but the!
are failing to make progress, ant
have been sacrificing men and ma
terial at rate almost beyond belief
This question of material is becom
; ing one of the most important. Over
coats and felt-lined boots are go
ing to be more important than sieg
guns and ammunition trains, for sev
; eral months to come. Which com
blatant is the better equipped in thi
{ regard? In all probability German
l is.
Nothing that had to do with pre-
| paredness seems to have been over
T looked by the Germans. They ha
S brought preparation to a climax O
: time and perfection, right on tn
2 verge of the wars outbreak. The
\ had planned for campaign in whic
4 their full strength would be required
n therefore they were prepared to pu
v gumboots and sheepskin gloves an
e woolen underwear on the full nun
J, Der of soldiers that their music
: rolls showed. Neither of the othe
: warning nations was ready to d
S that. The others, indeed, have tn
resources from which to buy whs
: they need; but there is long wa
e between having the money and ha'
=. ing the supplies stored in war;
: houses, assigned and ready to be d.
n livered at the front. Germany
y probably in better shape than h
~ enemies for the instant business