New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-09
The Allied Turning Movement anu
Antwerp.


countcring opposition mt every S''p' '""'
noonle have realized how steadily II mas "''" -
covering the ground lost through the
..,.,io,, movement nv Won Kluck from the bcs'a'
do, ., -, point east and south Of Fars' Nv"
,hc German retreat from the Marine Na"'' "'''''
an tbc line Of the Aisnc the CHIEF Pr'Ss"'' ~"
hv General Ionrc on the exposed "erma" ~"
TO-, zoe FOL, aronnd Noyou. There Won MUCK
nrotected himself by bending his Inc "oi'" at
right angle and calling up new army u''o'' WI"
pooh, % meet the extension Of the allied line
aimed at his flank and rear
Soon the centre Of the hcrceSt hsh'lns u" INV
German right shifted northward to Roye' 'heh u
the region Of Ham and Pcrronc. directly east u
,nions. then 70 Albert and Bapaumc. northeast
If AmicnS. The Germans kept hurrYinc r'lnio''e
ments 10 the west and maintained their POSITIONS
hv tho aid of fierce frontal attacks. Yet th'y "au
f. keen ON extending toward the north. Beyond
Hanaumc the new points OF contact were 1"uhu
at Arras. then at Dousi and in the last DAY OF
two south and east Of Lille. On "Wednesday ana
Yesterday large bodies of German aud French cav
airy were fighting north Of Lille. almost ON the
coast of the North Sea. The forces of the Allies
are. in fact. again within a few miles of the Bel
,ian frontier. r. indeed some Of them have not
crossed the border south Of Osend
Events in Belgium may have accelerated this
envelopins movement. 1t has become evident that
Antwerp cannot hold out very much longer against
the German investment. The German commander,
in accordance with the rules of war. gave notice
that the city itself would be bombarded from the
new positions which the investing forces had
gained. The seat of the Belgian government was
thercupon removed to Ostend. and tens of thou
"a nds Of noncombatants have sought refuge n
Holland and in Western Belgium. If Antwerp
should fall, part Of the Belgian garrison and
field army might be able TO retreat west toward
Client and there join hands with the forces now
defending Ostend. An extension Of the allied line
through Northeastern France and across the Be-
glsn frontier would therefore be Of great service
in facilitating the extricaton of the Belgian army
from its present perilous situation in and about
Antwerp
II is not likely that General Joffre will take
any serious risks in trying 10 relieve Antwerp.
From the political point of view the loss Of the
present Belgian capital would be regrettable But
from the military point Of view its occupation 'y
the Germans would be Of little consequence It's
fall, like the fall Of Maubeuge, would be disaster
belonging TO the first phase Of the war-a phase
ended with the German repulse on the River
Marine, antwerp can no more be used as per-
lnanent base for German operations than Brussels
can and would have TO be evacuated as soon as
the Germans lost their hold the Meuse Valley.
It is a mistake, also, to think that Antwerp will
serve the Kaiser as specially advantageous base
for marine or airshp operations against England
II cannot be occupied by the German feet which
would have 70 BASS through Dutch waters IN order
10 get into the harbor Of Antwerp. Besides if
any German warships got there they would be
worse bottled up than they are now in Wihelms-
haven or at the Kiel Canal entrances. As Yep
vlceable than IL Brussels or any other point now
held by the Germans in central Belgium Beyond
contributing in money and supplies to maintain
the German troops It would prove a conquest of
little Importance.
The great task before the Allies is TO push the
Germans back out Of France, and no side issues
will be allowed to interfere with that task The
great superiority OF the German forces during the
first month Of the war compelled virtual aban-
donmeDt 10 them not only of Belgium but of a
large portion Of French territory. That can be
rewon only by concentrating all the strength IF
the Allies on the present German lines of defence
in France, either breaking them or turning them
The turning movement has been pushed with en-
crgy, but not recklcSsy. 1t has not borne fruit
as yet but every extension of the allied line north
has compelled the Germans to weaken their left
and centre in order to reinforce their right The
critical point Of contact has been moving steadily
away from Paris. and if the development continues
the weakened German centre may have To retire
toward Belgium to avoid being pierced
The urOblcn i'm Northeastern France is still