The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-11
Details Kept From Public.

The zones OF concentration OF the Ger
man army and its "Ordre de Bataille.
that liz. it's grouping and the strength OF
its different groups, Is not known to the
outside world. and even not known In
Berlin to the general German public.
The same IL true Of the military forces OF
France. Therefore, whatever Is advanced
by "a military commentator must per
force be based only upon familiarity with
military eNlgencies and probabilities,
coupled with the ordinary knowledge OF
roads, communications. geographical,
typographical and other general circum-
stances conditioning the assembling and
disposng of a countrys forces in som"
particular zone of war for the attain
ment Of a particular and obvious object
II was assumed that the concentration
OF the German army was taking place In
the zune--the richest In communication
outlined 10y the towns OF Wcsel, Cologne.
Alx-la- Chapelle, Treves. Metz, Strass-
burg. Mannheim ana that the main force
Of the German army would advance
through Belgium by the valley OF the
Mouse and be in a position to interrupt
the French lines OF communications.
The stubborn resistance encountered in
Belgium may have influenced the Ger
man headquarters 10 change the disposi.
zion OF its army groups, shifting It's
main line Of offence But 1t is as
logical to suppose that the TeutOnic army
Will maintain its advance through the
Meuse Valley with a stubbornness equal
TO that of its adversary, bringing TO bear
IN that field strong reenforcenents which
would have to he withdrawn from other
groups.
The only thing which appears certain
from the engagements at AltllrCh and
Muelhausen II that south of Strassburg
there Is no evidence Of any considera-
Die strength OF German forces, and II
might be concluded that there exists an
intention even OF Withdrawing German
troops from Alsace TO reinforce the group
In Lorraine or that in Belgium. That IN
tent would appear to be evidenced by the
reported arrival near basle OF the ad-
vance guard Of an Austrian army group
composed of several army corps. THIS
Austrian army group could take over the
defence OF the Rhine, freeing the German
troops IN that region for use elsewhere.
However. il would no; he illogical to
seek another signincatiOn in the presence
Of Austrian troops in the western theatr"
of war. The Austrian army is composed
of sixteen army corps Of $4,000 com
butants each. In three divisions two line
divisions and one landwehr or territorial
division. or these sixteen army corps,
seven are recruited In Slavonic districts,
that is to say, in districts more or less
Unaffected
Occurrences during the present moolll-
cation which have hinged on that situa-
ton are unknown or imperfectly known
To the outer world The only reports
which have filtered through to western
Europe describe conditions OF mutiny al
many points which were met by the sum
mary execution of soldiers by the Aus
trian military authorities
Exchange of Troops.
The value OF these troops for use
| against Russians and Serbs may have
| appeared doubtful and they may have
! been sent into the western theatre OF wal
in exchange for German troops, the be-
| lief being that these Austrian SlavoniI
| soldiers In German frame, employed
| against France and Belgian troops. would
ROT n In Ihnlr rnIlltlrN cohesion and lhnl