Omaha daily bee., 1914-11-01
WAR PREDICTIONS
GENERALLY FAIL
Foreeasting Events Of Great
Struggle Are Practically
Impossible.
SITUATIONS LITTLE CHANGED
Armies IN Rattle Hold About same
Advantage Now NJ Early I'm Sep
TENDER, with various shift
inEs Made.


inEs Made.
CThe following review OF the operations
IN France. written by a former military
officer sent TO tho war zone by the Asso-
cihted Press. could not be cabled because
of the restrictions OF the British and
French military censorship. II brings
the situation up TO october 9-The Asso-
ciated Press)
Correspondence OF the Associated Press)
THE HAGUE. oct 1O-Though official
predictions that the battle in eastern and
northwestern France would come to an
end within this or that number OF days
have been many. so far none Of them
have been borne out. That either the
French left wing or the German right
wing would finally be enveoped ana
crushed has been asserted by the various
general headquarters time and again, but
20 far this has not been done. The same
applies TO attempts made TO break the
centers Of the two opposing armies. After
herculean efforts up and down the tre-
mendous battle line, from Albert to Bel
fort. conditions at THIS writing are vlr-
tuAlly those OF September -.
But official dispatches indicate that the
two armies have more or less worn them
selves out by the incessant attacks and
counter attacks. and French and German
and English military writers have come
20 accept as certain that whichever side
retreats from the positions at present
occupied will be in a sorry plight, ospe-
oialiy ~ the victor should be able 20 put
IN the field fresh troops at the critical
moment
The rigid restrictions OF the French and
AZ 10 Tr,yN rl
bic to cable In any detail the day by day
developments OF this stupendous action,
or to point out the Significance OF GER
tain events. The meager official state
ment from London and Paris naturally
disclose only what Il Is desired TO dis
close. and the review Is designed 70 pre-
sent the situation as 1t stands today and
20 indicate such events as have had In
fluence upon the final outcome. what
ever II may be. OF this series OF battles
Efforts About same.
The effort expended by the French and
German armies In offensive and defen-
sive operations Is about equal While
the Germans In northeastern France, tho
right center and right wing. have made
desperate efforts TO gain new ground by
continued offensive operations the French,
forces opposing them have done the same
jn an effort to clear France of the in
vadeF.
This has led to one of the strangest
series of Observation-Disclosures maneuvers
known In military history. While the
French have hurled themselves against
the German entrenched positions, the
Germans have followed up each failure
OF the allied troops TO take part OF the
German defense line. only 70 learn that
ground so taken had 10 be surrendered
again as soon as endorsements appeared
or the scene. To this there are only two
+. exceptions The German right wing has
advanced from Bapaume TO Roye. while
the center behind the verduu-ro,l fort
line has succeeded in breaking through
a. 81. Mihlci, Los Paroches and Camp
do RomRnines.
To the determination OF both sides not
to surrender ground gained Is due the
protractlon of the struggle. The Ger
mans admit that break OF their present
line would transfer the theater OF war to
German territory. and the French seem
20 realize that without the support OF
the Verdun-Toui-Epina -Belfort defense
line OF Qualifications their difficulties
would be greatly increased. At this mo.
ment the Notifications in question still
prevent German advance on central
France. and their reduction would mean
OF course. that the French line would be
considerably thinned out II In addition
70 stemming the German tide In north.
eastern France It would have to meet an
advance from Alsace-Lorraine in the oper
field. While the French field forces have
successfully discounted the break on the
verdun-Toul Inc. widening OF this
breach might lead to a condition not Sc
easily disposed of.
should Have stood Ground Retter.
IL 10 at least a strange coincidence. a,
Dutch and Italian military writer's hav,
pointed out that he'German right wins
Hhould have been able 10 stand its ground
better. and even advance slightly. jus
az soon as St Mlh'el, Les Paroches ant
Camp de Romaines fell In the hands OF
the Germans. Italian and Swiss CORE
spondents profess to know that a further
turning OF the German right wing wal
prevented by the breaking of the Yer
dun-Toul line, because Il became neces
sary to mass large French forces oppo
site the breach. AMI In so doing IN,
French were obliged 10 shift their en-
tire left center and left wing furthe
southeast.
taking advantage OF this contraction
the Germans. on September %. advance,
as far as Bapaume. reached Albert OF
the following day. and drove the Frencl
as far as Roye by October g. There /
no doubt that during the days which hav
elapsed since this great struggle bega
the opposing forces have been so accu
rntely and scientifically distributed tina
even slight local reverse must aztec
the entire line.
In view OF the fact that the outcom
OF the present struggle is expected 10 do
termine the result OF the first phase q
the war In France. a review OF the OF
erations preceding Il together with