The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-09-08
MILITARY EXPERT
REVIEWS WAR
AMERICAN OBSERVER WHO HAS
MADE STUDY OF WARFARE
AND STRATEGY
Expects Allies TO Take Offensive This
Week-ouick Victory Essential
for German Success.

(From the New York rribune)
The passage of the right wing OF
the German army TO the east ~
Paris indicates that the directors OF
the movements OF the invading
forces have no intention of investing
a city defended by the strongest for
tihcations and $4,000 OF 400 5000 men
while the allied French and British
armies remain undefeaaed in the field.
No such defeats as were inflicted
upon the French armies in 1870 AZ
vionvilles, Gravelotte and Sedan have
marked the progress OF the German
armies from the Belgian frontier since
the early part of August. And the
employment of a force OF more than
half million men for the investment
OF Paris could only be justified by
such triumphs in the field. The cap
ture Of Paris would give Germany no
distinct military advantage in a war
with a nation In arms battling for its
territorial integrity. n not its indie
pendent political existence. Paris Is
supplied TO Withstand a years block
ade. Il Is questionable whether the
German empire. shut OF from all
sources OF outside supply, which in the
caurse Of the last ten years has been
changed largely from an agricultural
70 a manufacturing state, could feed
fits vast armies In France and In east
ern Prussia during the length Of time
Il wouk require an investing force OF
800 .00O,or soc. 900 men TO reduce the
ancient French capital.
The retention OF Paris by France Is
OF sentimental interest rather than
military or even political Importance.
The machinery of government has
been set UP at Bordeaux. The manu-
facture OF cannon and small ordnance
and other military supplies is con-
Quoted elsewhere. Unless the Ger.
mans evince,a disposition to place in
front Of the Notifications OF Paris a
containing force at least as great as
the garrison. sound military policy
would dictate MS abandonment and the
throwing upon the battle line the gar.
rison entrusted TO General Gallieni
for its defence.
Victory OF a decisive character IL
becoming Increasingly essential TO the
success OF the German invP sion, II not
indeed. to the preservation of her IN
vading army. The exigencies OF the
campaign in Northern France have
drawn the enveloping right wing OF
the Kaisers army to a perilous dis
lance from. its bases of supply at AK
la-Chapelle and Cologne. and entaileo
upon II the maintenance In the face OF
an active and well led enemy OF a
long and difficult line of communica-
ton The defensive tactics of the
French and English commanders have
been murderously effective in the in
Fiction of punishment. Apparently
authentic reports indicate loss 20 the
Germans in killed alone OF $1,000, and
such a loss in killed presupposes a
loss In disabled and captured Of
5000 or 225.000. No army can sus-
tain such losses without suffering in
morale and aggressive energy.
Already American military obser.
ers who have followed the course o.
the wz< IN Northern France with
keen professional interest detect &
diminuuon of vigor In the German
punch. The steady reinforcement o.
the armies in France cannot continue
indefinitely in face OF the increasing
menace OF the Russian invasion oil
East Prussia. The destruction OF the
Austrian army in Galicia puts tbs
Dual Monarchy out OF consideration
as an aggressive power. Austria mus
keep the Servian armies out Of Bosnia