The Sentinel=record., 1914-08-29
German Emperor Congratulates His Troops on
Having Put the Iron Ring" Around the
Allied Defensive Army.
London Acknowledges Seriousness of the Situa-
ton But French War Office Maintains It's
Usual Silence

London, Aug. Midnight
day has been day of momentous
news.
News of the gravest character
came from France, where in single
week the aspects of the operations
have changed entireIy.
Last week the allied armies were
pursuing an offensive campaign ON i
the frontiers. Now, according to Of
ficial news received from Berlin EN-
peror William is congratulating his
people on the success of the German
army in the task of putting the Iron
ring" around the allied armies from
Cambria department of DuNord,
France, to the Vosges, while Lord
Kitchener, the British war minister,
came into parliament with the an
nouncement that troops from India
are being called to help the British
army in France and that the British
army is to be reinforced Immediately.
The only consolation offered tho
British public was the testimony
from Field Marshal Sir John French
that in the heavy fighting against
tremendous odds the British troops,
who suffered severely. bore them
selves with conspicuous bravery
1t already is realized that the ter
ribe struggle is only at its beginning
and that the German plan of cam
paign, openly revealed to Sir William
Edward Goschen, then British ambas-
sador to Germany, by Gottlieb Won
Jagow, the German foreign secretary,
as shown by the official paper pub
lished yesterday, namely, to strike the
swiftest and strongest bow at France
regardless of Belgium's neutrality or
any other hindrance, and then when
France is at Germany's feet for Ger
many to turn her attention to the
Russian attack, is being carried
through ruthlesslv-
The offensive strategy of the allies
is abandoned. The German army in
vastly superior numbers has imposed
on the allies purely defensive
strategy which is devoted to delaying
as much as possible what now seems
to be an inevitable advance on Paris.
Little can be gathered from either
British or French official accounts of
the great battles of the past week. IN
fact, more Is learned from what IL
omitted than from what is stated.
The only thing that is clear is that
the allies are fighting on the defen-
siye upon ever receding lines, while
it is becoming increasingly Gear that
the desire to make brilliant coup in
Alsace-Lorraine was weak spot in
the French strategy.
On the side OF the allies, whose ef-
forts are devoted to gaining time,
while the Russian hosts overrun
Prussia, however, is the fact that
their armies still are In being aud
that the Germans may run some dan
ger from their ever lengthening lines
of communication.
That this danger is not negligible
is shown by the news that Emperor
w imam Ids tIt Hlobl4ihdllJfl
OF the last reserves to protect com
munications and occupy Belgium so
that the troops now engaged in this
! work may be released to 90 to the
front, where they are badly needed to
replace Germany's heavy losses in
killed and wounded.
The work of provisioning and sup
plying the German armies is greatly
facilitated by the Germans being able
to draw on Belgium for supplies.
I The British public is facing the dis
appointing news with patient deter
mination.
The Spectator, in an editorial to-
| day, says
There is cause for anxiety and
there Is cause for stern determina-
ton; above all there is cause for un-
tagging energy in military prepara-
ton. but there is no cause for despair
o. even despondency. Time is with
us and against our enemies"
On the eastern battlefield continues
lfaborabie to the allies. The Russians
continue to advance in east Prussia