The Washington times., 1914-08-10
GREAT ATTLE TO Be
STAGED|N BELGIUM
Strategists Declare Country
Necessarily Field of lmpor-
tant Fighting.

Whether 1t was the intention Of the
German war office to make It's main
attack on France through Belgium or
to make 1t farther south along the line
of the Franco-German frontier proper
Is not yet clear to the strategists. But
the developments of the last few days
have made IL certain that whatever
were the original plans of the German
leaders, they are going to be compelled
to throw enormous forces into the re-
gton of Liege and Namur. and fight one
or more great battles there.
This Is the opinion Of competent ex-
perts here. They point out that In
war the Backgrounds are not always
chosen In advance. II was not. for
instance. the original intention Of
Meade or Lee to fight at Gettysburg,
but unlocked for military events COM
PEELED It.
So II appears that some of the great
destined to occur In Belgium, perhaps
at Namur. In any event, 1t Is almost
sure to be IN that vicinity. Liege VIII.
of course, be the scene OF further hard
lighting. providing the Germans ms nave p.,
CLANS insist.
Liege Vital Point.
Here, briefly, IL the situation, so far
as It can be discerned by military ex-
perts here:
While the Belgians temporarily
checked the German advance at Laege,
the French, assisted by the English and
Belgians. gathered enormous forces in
the region Of Namur. The fact that
this Is not far from the great battle
ground of waterloo. does not detract
from the interest in the situation The
Eranrh N q nlaar going 10
rest simply on the defensive. Nor Is
there any reason to believe the English
would sanction a mere waiting game
against the Germans; Therefore. the
in the valley of the Meuse, which have
been pushed forward from Aix-La-Chap-
ellie and Cologne must be In sufficient
force to overcome this newly mobilized
force of the allies or stand TO get drtv-
en- back themselves.
II the allies can strike successfully
at the German forces In the region OF
Liege and Namur, and those massfng
roll up what is probably the right flank
of the German western armies. from
the standpoint of the grand strategy
OF the German campaign Disaster TO
the German forces In this region would
mean that the allies would push east
and north. toward or across the Rhine.
They probably would not try to reach
Berlin, but would endeavor to do what
Is much more important, to threaten the
region about Emsden and the mouths of
the Elbe and Weser. where there are
tremendous coast strongholds, affording
refuge to the German fleet and pro-
tecting the western entrance of the Kiel
canal.
Cannot Risk Defeat.
It is a well known fact that the Ger
man strategy for years has been, not
defensive, but offensive Moltke. Won
der Goltz and all the great German
war authorities have preached offensive
operations Germany has the-utmost con
fdence in her ability to defend her own
territory. But at the same time, from
the standpoint Of experts here, for
Germany to sustain defeat on big scale
In Belgium, would be a grave blow to
her.
Aside from its moral effects, no nv-
ing man can tell what might happen
If the allies should win victory OF
frst-class importance in Belgium and
then push on into German territory,
with the German right defeated and
the German strongholds on the north
coast threatened from the rear.
The German general stan, II Is felt
here appreciates fully this situation
In fact, the memorable utterances Of
General Won Bernhardim, Of the Ger
man army. two years ago, IN the book
he wrote which caused a sensation in |
Europe, indicated that the possibilities
seen. 1t may be considered certain. !
therefore, that Germany already has a |
force mobilized within easy |
reach of Liege, for Germany cannot |
afford to take chances of a defeat OF |
magnitude in the Belgium region. |