Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-24

military Expert in Chicago Tribune
Washington, Aug. 24.-The French
and German armies are now concen-
tration for the struggle which may de-
eide the fate Of western Europe. The
battle may occur within the next two
weeks or month. 1t is not likely to oc-
eur in Belgium, but more likely to oc-
cur in France.
Military men believe the German ac-
tivity in Belgium is merely a side issue
as compared with their efforts to find
the weak spot in the French line and
TO catch the main French army off Its
guard in its own territory.
The operations in Belgium, which
appear to be designed to control the
mouth of the river Shelf, below Ant :
werp, SO as to carry on torpedo oper :
atoms in the English channel, may re :
quire the equivalent of four or five
corps, mostly reserve units. This weak :
ening of any other part is being more
than made up by the acquisition of
some Austrian corps on the extreme
left.
France Must Conserve Army.
Under the French war plans the
main army must be so strategicallY de-
ployed as to meet the main German
force directly in its front and above all
to occupy zone which in case of de-
feat would assure a natural line of re-
treat TO the southwest of France
where are to be found all the re-
sources for continuing the war.
The strategical French front should
be on line perpendicular TO the bi-
secting line of the area Mayence- Sar-
repurg- Nancy Chaument. This would
give the French front towards the up
per reaches of the rivers Marine. the
Moselle. and the Meuse. or the line of
concentration Bar LIE Ouch Neuf
chatel -Epinal. AS to the relative dis
lance TO the front, in which the French
main armies can be concentrated, this
is dependent on the comparative rapid
ity of concentration of the two German
armies
Experts Differ on Tactics.
Opinions differ greatly on this SUBJ
ject. Some advocate the French con-
centration on the first line of fortifica-
tons and the frontier covering corps"
Others advocate that the strategical
deployment take place behind the line
of the River Marine This would as
unconfused organization of the larger
units. while. at the same time, giving
sufficient room for maneuver.
Under this plan the frontier groups
of troops and Notifications would be
left to their own devices and act as de
laying points against the Germans
This plan, while undoubtedly the
soundest from a military standpoint. if
the Germans gain the benefit of the
strategical and tactical offensive first
is subject to serious objections from
political standpoint, as a great area
of territory would be practically given
over to the enemy. This is an import
ant consideration in France.
French Strategy Compromise.
The conclusion, therefore, appears to
have been TO assemble the main army.
as a compromise between the two lines
outlined bove, on the line Bar-Le-
Due Burmont- Sur NJ euse- Epinal. T his
line having been decided upon, how
will the French armies be distributed ;?
Where will the main force be placed SO
as TO be in the best position to produce
decisive results?
On the part Of the Germans. II one
considers the points Of disembarka ton
from the railways as shown by the
platforms, from the fact that the Ger
mans will not unnecessary extend their
front of operations and VIII use the
hest avenues of approach for an Of
fensive campaign. it appears that the
movements will be somewhat sim liar
to those of the German armies in the
Franco Prussian war of 1870.
;rrI,, q
vide their forces in the following man
ner:
First army (the right wing), between
Thionvilie and Metz.
Second army (the principal mass on