Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-12-07
today 5 MOVES
IN THE WARZONE:.
What They MEAN
German War Office Announ-
ceS Abandonment of a
French Position in Poland
OF MORE SIGNIFICANCE
Than TRIUMPH AT LODI
BY j. w. n. MASON,
Former European Manager Of the
United Press.


NEW YORK, Dec. 7.-d1 a. nj
simultaneously with Field Marshal
Won Hindenburg's victory at Lodz.
Berlin makes the first official an
nouncement of the war since the bat
tie of the Marne, that the Germans
have been compelled TO abandon
French position. The German eyac-
uatiOn of Vermelles between Lille
and Arras, thus may turn out to
possess much greater significance
than the defeat of the Russians in
Poland.
The two operations, though re-
moved from each other by the width
of Europe, are closely related. There
seems no doubt but that the Russian
victory has been won with troops
withdrawn from France and Belgium.
1t appears evident. too, that the allies
are now more nearly on an equality
with the German strength in the west
than at any time since the war be-
gan. Nevertheless, to predict, from
this change i'm the situation, that the
Germans soon will be out of Western
/ France and Belgium would be haz-
ardous. The future situation In the
west depends on conditions in Rus
sia
It is certain. however. that Ger
many counts far more on the neces-
sity of preventing a Russian invasion
of German territory than on holding
of the allies in the west. Russia's
penetration into the heart Of Ger
many would inevitably mean a Grip
pling loss of territory to the Hohen.
zollerns. Furthermore, there is nc
continuous. natural barrier in th'
east such as the Rhine forms in th'
west. Compelled TO choose betweeI
weakening her western army or let
ting the Slav horde overrun the Prus
sian provinces, Germany cannot af
ford to hesitate a moment There
fore, any immediate success that ma
be counted upon by the western al
/. lies will depend on the deyelopmer
. or the Eastern peril
! At present this danger is not press
ing. The result Of the battle {
LODI demonstrates that Won Hinder
burg has enough troops to hold IN
Russian army a safe distance frOf
the German frontier. If. however
the Slavs are able eventually to sur
pass themselves and develop
strategic situation that cannot quick
" be overriden by Won Hindenburl
there must be other Withdrawals fror
the German forces in France an
Belgium. Then, the announcement
of the abandonment of Vermelles vii
be followed by far more serious re
tirements.
Lens is second only to Lille an
Arras as a railway and high roa
center and is the nearest importan
point to Douai twelve miles TO ives
At Douai, the outer defenses of tn
German communications begin. Dou
Z ais capture would mean the begin
ming of the end of the German oC
cupation Of French territory, unles
German troops could be withdraw
from the Russian border for a ne'
western offensive.
The surrender of Vermelles itsel
!. is not considered important enoug
! TO mention in the French official r.
. port. Nevertheless, it suggests tn
direction Of the present objective
the allies. The center of the allie
offensive seems TO hav been move
2 south Of Ypres. where the BIRTHS
l army has its headquarters. It no
/ apparently is developing toward Len