Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-03
THINK KAISER MAY
FOLLOW 187OPLAN
General Staff Here Believes
Strategy That Conquered
France Will Be Duplicated.
DOUBT THE SUCCESS OF
SUCH A CAMPAIGN NOW
French Army Today a Vastly More
Efficient Fighting Machine Than
It Was a. Years Ago.

That Germany proposes TO duplicate in
the war with France. as far as possible.
the strategic movements which brought
her victory forty-four years ago in the
Franco-Prussian war. is the opinion Of
the army general star here. based on the
opening Of hostilities between Germany
and France yesterday.
Military strategists here. however. are
doubtful Of the success Of such cam
paign at this time. It is pointed out that
the French army is a very different nsnts-
ing instrument today from what It vas
yorty-four years ago. when. M-organixeo
and insufhciently equipped. It met
crushing defeat.
The Important difference In the open
ing day of the Franco-Prussian waf-at
also was August 2-was that then the "a
Army Corps Of France took the initiauve'
crossing the border to attack the scr
mans at saarbrucken. only to receive
STAINING check. This time the -psycho-
logical announcement Of the anniversary
failed 70 give the German forces as au-
snicious start as on that same fateiul
date in 1870.
The battle of Saarbrucken was followed
by the withdrawal of the French army
under BaZaine to Metz. WneiS -. he
shut up for many months. only 10 %
obliged in the end to capitulate 70 'ne
German forces.
May Repeat 1870 Moves.
(. me fact that the German staff has
chosen again, to strike at France IN the
very same place where the victorious
campaign Of 1870 was initiated has leo
the experts here to the conclusion that II
ia Germany's intention to repeat closely
the strategic movements OF the FRANCO
Prussian war.
The Germans have for years practlceu
on paper, and as far as possible IN neio
maneuvers the movements 10 DC m t
on every square of the war map. lneS
are we'll acquainted with tne sns -
IF the French fortresses designed 70
prevent their advance, their system is
&c near perfect as human foresight can
make 1t. and If they fail now at tne
outset 1t will not be TOT iack X, % wy ar
nf quarter Of a century has been
able to devise. ~
Commenting on today's reports OF tne
advance on Grey: the m mn. th xpe ad-
vance is the actual beginning OF an
invasion Of French territory, 1t IS pc
lteved that the purpose OF the GERMAN
staff is to make a -, aesp phrauen d the
French lines of defense before they can
he fully formed and organized. and make
a Ughtntng-1ike campaign against Parls
;taeif with the greater part of the Ger
man army.
The German Reasoning.
It is believed here that the German
idea is that this can be done before
Frances ally, Russia, can actually mobil-
ize and get her vast army under way to
attack Germany on the eastern frontier,
and it is said that the Germans have the
best of information as to the real re-
sources and weaknesses of the Russian
troops, and are confident that the lack
Of proper transport facilities and equip
ment are certain to mako the task of
mobilization very slow and imperfect
undertaking.
Then the Germans also are counting on
their allies. the Austrians. to worry the
Russians sufficiently to delay really
dangerous attack from the east, for 1t Is
not believed that the small Servian army
can completely absorb the latent offens We
powers of the Austrians. 1t follows as a
natural development of that plan of cam
paign, that If the German onset on
France Is successful, the bulk of the
army then will be Immediately trans
ported across Germany to attack SO much
of the Russian army as may have been
able to force its way over the powerful
line of Notifications which guards the
German eastern frontier.
perts that, in the beginning at least.