The Washington times., 1914-10-12

The vigorous pursuit by the Ger
mans of the retreating Belgian army
indicates that there are going to be
some hard blows struck during the
next few days in the Germans effort
10 capture Ostend. 1t is unlikely
that they would use this port as a
while the British fleet held the su-
premacy at sea. Any movement of
transports across the channel would
be certain to result in disaster.
The advantage of Ostend to the
German cause would lie in furnish
ing harbor of refuge for their sub
marines, in case they should attempt
a raid from Emden or Helgoland
against the troop ships and freight
ers that are maintaining the British
communications with their troops on
the Continent Such a raid, if sue
cessful, might cause great loss of
life, and might have important in
fluence in handicapping the British
plan of operations. In any case, it
would have an appreciabl moral ef-
feet
Great Britain may be expected 20
make strenuous effort to defeat
the progress of this German move.
For fighting on the defensive
close to the base. such as would be
the case in the defense of Ostend.
half-trained troops can be depend
go upon TO give a fair accounting
OF themselves. The protection of
intrenchments helps greatly in Civ
ing them the confidence that they
would lack in an open campaign.
III may be taken as certain that
Great Britain is now rushing to
Ostend every volunteer and every
marine from home who is consid-
cred fit for service in the field.
Just as Great Britain's naval de-
tense consists in seeking the en-
emy's ships in their home waters.
so does her land defense depend
upon the fighting on the Continent.
She has nothing TO fear from inva-
sion by troops transported by air
ships: these may, however, sue
Ceed in bombarding various Eng
lish towns.
Instead of detaching men to attack
the lines at Ostend General Won
kessler may pass Ostend by, and
with the full force of his army fall
upon the allied forces northwest of
Lille. Such a move would seem to
promise greater returns than would
an immediate attack upon Ostend.
II by such an accession of force the
German flank could overcome its
opponents, the Germans could re-
turn later and take up the question
Of Ostend
Whatever may be the outcome Of
the move in the north. the German
center will probably be called upon to
Withstand especially vigorous at
tscks delivered by the allies in the
effort to counteract the success of
the Germans at Antwerp.
The success of the Russian ad-
vance against the German army in
east Prussia has forced the German
line back to the Russian border at
Wirballen. while AT the south end of
the line Of battle the Russians claim
70 have advanced to LyCk. Russia is
pra 'ticaliy cleared of German troops
IN this district. but in the south the
Germans have made a successful
advance nearly to the Vistula river
at Just the point where ii would
have the greatest strategic result.
BY pushing forward through south
ern Poland they threaten both War
saw to the north ard the Russian in
vading force in Galicia to the south.
So serious has the success of the
Germans heen in its effects on the
campaign in Galicia that Russia has
allowed no definite news. to be given
out from the Tarnow district in the
last few days While the Austrian
reports claim victories in Galicia, the
reports from Russia pass over this
district and claim victories on the
east Prussian border
The advance of the Germans in the
vicinity Of Vistula makes so unsafe
the position Of the Russians at Tar
now that IL is not at all unlikely that
the Russians may have retired from
this position in order to concentrate
hn
German move TO the north. By draw
ing in their forces to concentrate
them against the German invasion
the Russians are following the prin-
C'pl"s emphasized by Napoleon-to
keep their forces united and to bring
Up every detachment in order to
overwhelm the enemy at the point Of
battle
This ending Of the tenth week Of
me war is a good time TO summar-
'ze the positions Of the contending
forces in the French theater of oper-
ations and in that Of Russia. In sew
~nty days the Germans have carried
ne war across Belgium and d'had ad-
vanced 100 miles into France before
being forced back to the present
lines. Four weeks they have held
the line entirely on hostile territory,
which at it's most advanced point is
80 miles from Germany. In spite OF
heing appreCiably inferior to the al
les I'm numerical strength. they have
been able to make the important
gain Of the capture Of Antwerp, with
the result of Strengthening their gen.
eral position.
After ten weeks of war the allies
IN the field have proved that they
IAN withstand the German attacks.
Their present supeFioritv in nUmer-
teal strength will steadily grow, and
q may be that in equipment and
mounts they will steadily make a
~n'atiye gain. They have s.rvived
n" maximum DEVELOPMENT of the
German strength without suffering
my decisive defeat. and hereafter
matters should be more and more in