The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-29

correspondence OF Associated Press }
THE HAGUE, October 1O-Though
official predictions that the baltic in
Eastern and Northwestern France would
come to an end within this or that
number of days have been many, SO tar
none OF them has been borne out. That
either the French loft wing. or tho
German right wing would finally DO
developed and crushed has been as
serted by tho various general head
quarters time and again. but go far this
has not been done. The same applies
to attempts made to break the centres
of two opposing armies. After hercu.
lean efforts up and down the trcmcn-
cous battle line, from Albert TO Bel
Tort, conditions at this writing arc vir-
tnally those OF September 49,
But oficia! dispatches indicate that
tho two armies have more or less worn
Themselves out by the incessant attacks
and commentaries, and French Ger
man and English military writer's havo
come to accept ms certain that which =
ever side retreats from tile positions at
present occupied Will be In n sorry
plight, especially IL the victor should be
able to put In the neld. fresh troops nj
tho critical moment.
The rigid restrictions OF the French
ana British censorship have made (,
impossible to cable In any detail the
day by day developments of this stu
pendous action, or 10 point out the
significance Of certain events The
iGcagrc official statements from London
and Paris naturally disclose only what
IL IL desired to disclose, and the re-
view is designed t, present the situa-
ton as IL stands to-day, aud 10 indi-
cat. such events ~ have had influence
upon tho final outcome. whatever /,
may be. of this series OF battles.
The effort expended by the French
and German armies In offensive and
defensive operations If about equal.
While the Germans in Northeastern
France, the right centre and right
wing. have made desperate efforts 10
gain new ground by continued offensive
operations, the French forces oppos-
ing them have done tho same In an
effort to clear France OF tho Invader
This has led to one of tho strangest
series OF offensive defensive ;nanoeu-
vres known in military history. While
the French have hurled themselves
against tho German intrenchcd posi- :
lions. the Germans have followed up
each failure OF the allied troops TO take
part OF the German defense line, only
to learn that ground SO taken had to
be surrendered again as soon as rein
forccmcnts appeared on the scene. To
this there arc only two exceptions
The German right wing has advanced
from Bapaume to Roye, while tho cen
tire behind the Verdun-Toul fort line
has succeeded in breaking through at
ST. Mihiel, Les Parochcs and Camp dc
Romanines
both DETERMINED NOT
10 SUPREME ctt GROUND
TO the determination on both sides
Eol tt surrender ground gained is due
The protraction OF the struggle. The
Germans admit that break of their
present line would transfer the theatre
of war to German territory, and the
French seem to realize that without the
support OF the Verdlin- Toul- Epinal- Bel
fort defense line OF Notifications their
difficulties would be greatly increased
At this moment the Notifications III
question s,ill prevent II German ad
vance on central France, and their
reduction would mean, of course, that
the French line would be considerably
thinncd out If in addition to stemming
the German tide in Northeastern France
il would have to meet an advance from
Alsace-Lorrainc IN the open field
While the French field forces have sue
cessfully discounted the break on the
NcrdunToul line, 4 widening of this
breach might lead to a condition not
SO easily disposed OF.
1t is at least Il strange coincidence,
as Dutch and italian military writer's
have pointed out, that the German right
wing should have been able to stand
lis ground better, and even advance
slightly, just as soon as st. Mihiel, Les
Paroches and Camp de Romaines fell
In the hands OF the Germans. Italian
and Swiss correspondents profess TO
know that further turning of the Ger
man right wing was prevented by the
breaking of the Verdun-T oul line, be"
cause il became necessary to mass large
French forces opposite the breach, and
in so doing. the French were Obliged to
shift their entire left centre and left
wing further southeast.
Taking advantage of this contraction,
tho Germans, on September 80, advanced
as far as Bapaume, reached Albert on
the following day, and drove the French
rs far as Roye by October 3. There is
no doubt. that during the days which
have elapsed since this great struggle
began. the opposing forces have. been
20 accurately and scientifically .distrib-
utcd that even a slight local reverse
must affect the entire line.
Of the present struggle is expected to
war in France, review of the opera
resume of the actions since September
rs. are here presented.
On September 1 the German forces
in. the western theatre Of war formed
IL limo reaching from tho immediate cas-:
of Belfort to near Polk, about twenty
miles southwest of Amiens. In North
as Verdun, this line occupied the terri
tory between the German border and
the Belfast Epinal- oul-Verdun fort.