Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-08-29
EXPERT ANALYZES
SITUATION AT FRONT
Failing in First Nut, Can Germans Re-
cover More Quickly Than the Allies
-on This Question All Depends.
(By j. w. T. Mason.)
Former London Correspondent for the
United Press.)

United Press)
New York, Aug. 29.-The allies lines
were holding against the Germans to-
day the much-criticised 100-mile gap in
Frances line of frontier Notifications
between Maubeuge and verdun.
There was no indication of retreat
on their part to the La Fere- Rheims
permanent defenses.
Official suggestions from Paris of
lull in the fighting and the intimation
from London that there have been no
serious assaults since Wednesday seem
ed to indicate that the Germans were
ver-optimistic when they announced
they had the allies surrounded.
Many military authorities have main
tanned the theory that so devastating
a conflict as pan-European war an
interval of at least month would have
to elapse between great battles to give
the combatants time to recover from
their exhaustion.
Germany, however, cannot wait
month ON the French frontier without
suffering strategic disaster.
Whether the kaiser s troops can force
the pace under the weakening condi-
tions of modern warfare is vital ques-
tion for them.
They have not quite carried the al
lies off their feet by the initial rush.
The next development depends largely
on which side can recover most quick
ly from the effects of the first shock.
The German announcement that the
Russians had been defeated at Allen
stein may mean simply that the Ger
mans retreat upon the Vistula fort.
resses is being conducted in orderly
fashion.
If the report that Allenstein has
been evacuated by the Germans Is true,
it is evident that their commanders
have abandoned the idea of field re-
sistance.
Allenstein was headquarters for the
twentieth army corps. While the camp
is unfortified, there are strong field
defenses and the spot is ideally situat-
ed in a marshy country for standup re-
sistance.
Abandonment Of this great military
post would be the most serious loss the
Germans have yet suffered In the east
and would prove that Russia 's troops
face only garrison forces, whose duty
it is to retreat to fortresses on an enc
my's approach.
Contradictory reports, one asserting
a German evacuation and the other
Russian defeat, leave the whole ques-
tion in doubt.
Great Britain 3 naval victory near
Heligoland Friday was very good for
its effect on the morale OF the British
sea guardians.
Since w.r began the British fighting
fleets have been patrolling the North
sea, with the mems nerves at the high
est tension human being can endure,
and constant watchfulness without iu-
cidents to stimulate activity, is an in
describable condition w any time and
especially so in a grave crisis.
The British naval srrusegists daring
plan to attack the German warships
off the immense stronghold of Heligo-
land undoubtedly con.cmplated not so
much the harm that might be caused
to the German navy by the destruction
of its light cruisers, as its psychologi-
cal effect upon the men of the British
fleet.
The break in the nervous monotony
Of fruitless waiting for the enemy to
appear win repay the British for the
Heligoland venture far more than the
material damage done to the German
navy.