The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-08-14
BELGIAN LINE STILL VNBROKEN
.ODAY'S
SITUATION
BY J. w. T. Mason, Former European
Manager OF the United Press.]

NEW YORK, Aug. 14.-(11 a. ny
German defeats are becoming little
too monotonous to be real and It 10
we'll to bear In mind that Germany's
Isolation as news center continues.
Tho fighting to the west Of the Meuse
between Diest and Eghzee In no
sense 10 made up Of battles. No battle
In the modern military meaning OF
tho word has yet been fought. Ger.
many 10 trying to discover the distrl'
button and weakness Of the allies
across the Meuse and the affrays be-
ina reported are no more than simply
reconnoisances In force az has been
pointed out in this column. The re-.
ports issued by the allies that their
own position remains intact and that
the German advance was checked arc
true technically, but they can be cas-
lily misunderstood. The allies prob,
ably have several hundred thousand
men in Belgium. That tho disposition
Of these troops could be forciby al
tered by 5000 or 10000 German skir'
mishers ls paIpabIy absurd while re-
treat Of the Germans Is not a victory
Of the allies uniess these reconoiter-
Ing expeditions have learned nothing.
The very necessity for retreating may
give the German general staff exactly
the information it desires. The i'm
portant fact to bear In mind Is that
Germany wants to select her own
battlefield II she advances across tho
Meuse and where that battlefield will
DO depends largely on the defeats
now being administered to the kais-
er's skirmishers.
limitations are contained In dis
patches from Brussels that the allies
are throwing up entrenchments be-
tween Meuse and Brussels. II this 10
80, we shall have an opportunity Of
judging the effective nature Of Ger
manys mass taetieB under, more fav.
orabIe conditions than has been pos
slble before the Llege forts. Il Is =
principal Of German strategy to ad-
vance along an entire front in field
operations while the French authori-
ties believe an echelon formation Is
better because Il allows sudden
changes in direction to be ordered.
The allies are undoubtedly mining part
Of the territory the Germans must
cross and az successful planting Of
a mine field before Liege demonstrate
ed. the havoc on mass formation 10
terrific.
Reports that the German commits
siarat has broken down are very like
Iy partly true. This branch Of the
kalser's army service has been criti-
cized for number Of years as likely
to reveal serious weakness in war
fare. Economic problems OF Germany
are in the hands Of one that directs
the strategy army. It ls pointed out
chat these military authorities are in
cIined to hold aIoof from commercial
matters and in consequence do not
possess economy knowledge to main
tain the commlsary for an army OF e
million. The suggestion Is made that
as soon as hostiIitIes broke out, the
kaiser should form council Of trust
magnates and place In the hands Of
Germany's chief captains Of industry
the economic problems Of tho army.
If the maintenance difficulty grows It
10 probable civilians will be given an
opportunity to demonstrate the super,
ority Of their methods over the min.
tary when food questions are con-
cerned.