New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-13
The German Reverses East of Paris

come of the failure Of the big German turning
novement When General Won Klucks attempt
~ enyeop the French left wing fell short because
that left wing had brought up safely against the
defences of Paris the advantage OF position
nassed from the Germans to the Allies. General
Won Kluck's army could not push to the north ana
west Of Paris, since such movement would have
broken connections with the army of General Won
BHlow. next in line on the left. Nor could he
safely plunge past Paris on the east unless the
German armies operating against the French left
centre and centre gained ground as fast as he did
On the French left centre and centre Won Bulow'
Won Hansen and the Grand Duke of Wurtembels
were making only trlhing progress, so that Won
Kluck had to bend all his energies toward extri-
eating himself from situation which was becom
ing more and more perious.
In last Wednesdays issue of TIE Tribune, when
Won Kluck's troops were nearing the Seine River
southeast of Paris--La Ferte Gaucher being the
southernmost point Of their advance-we said Of
their movement:
The weakness of the German position is that 1T is
now outAsnked on the right, from which direction
the Allies are attacking Kluck and trying TO get
into his rear. II the Allies can hold along their
curved-back left centre the situation will be very
favorable to them from the tactical point of view,
since q successful flank and rear attack from the
direction of Meaux would cut the present German
communications north and compel hurried retreat
toward Southern Belgium and Luxembourg
That is just what has happened The oppor-
tunity for such flank and rear attack was quickly
seized by the Allies. They have been harassng
Won Klucks columns from two sides and have
driven him north and east about sixty miles. Ills
retreat has been somewhat dsOrdery and his losses
in men and material have been severe. The armies
of Won Bdow Won Hansen and the Grand Duke
Of WIrtemberg have also retreated northward aftcr
falling to break the French left centre and centre
80 that the German line in Eastern France now
begins northwest of Rheims curves to the south
east below Epelnay and Chalons and then curves
northeast to the neighborhOod of Verdun. Five
armies, the four above mentioned and that of the
Crown Prince Of Prussia are massed IN that area,
while the sixth under Prince Rupprecht of Bal
varia is to the east Of the French line of frontier
offences standing the defensive near Nancy.
Berlin reported on Friday that the Crown Princes
forces had had some success southwest Of Verdun,
but yesterdays dispatches from Paris say that mis-
attack on the French line at that point was re
pulsed and that he also Is retiring
In the last four or five days the German often
sive- seems to have spent itself. The turning move
ment was impressive but from the point Of view
OF military results it was almost barren. The
frontal attacks on the French centre and left
centre have not been successful The allied troops
have not only been holding, but they have begun to
push forward Inasmuch as Germany had looked
for decisive victory in the first stage Of the war,
and in fact, has needed such a victory in order
to get her plans under way for a twOfrOntier cam
paign-against France i'll the west and Russia in
the east--the checks which she has suffered
are almost equal to an Out.andc defeat
There can be no doubt that the German armies
iu France will be spurred to one more desperate
effort 10 cripple the Allies. The offensive cannot
be abandoned by Germany without fata loss of
prestige If the Kaiser's armies merely stand
where they are or retire TO better defensive posi-
ton further east, the high hopes of the Berlin
General STAFF will 90 glimmering. Germany is lost
the minute she surrenders the offensive in the west
since British relnforcements are now beginning to
Dorr into France, and in another month Great
Brltains contingent ON the firing line there will
exceed 100000 II she still hopes to win, it will
be absolutely necessary for Germany to renew her
attack before these endorsements arrive.
In the war of 1901 a month and half from
the first day of mobilization Frances military
mower was shattered beyond recuperatlon Now
she has great army, not only intact, but shaken
down into a highly effective fighting machine In
stead Of sweeping away all opposition, as they did
forty.four years ago, the Germans are retiring
toward their own borders. French generalship has
vindicated itself by its sang frOtd under early ad
yersties due to the mperfectiOns Of mobilization.
The allied forces now equal the invaders, If they
do not outnumber them, whereas forty.four years
AGO Moltke had in the Lorraine campaign SUI
perlorlty Of about IS per cent. There is no Metz
or sedan in sight for the German troops now