New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-07

operate with the Belgian forces, and
possibly another English army. may
be accomplished in few weeks. Such
force menacing their communicA-
tons and threatening their rear
would compel withdrawal Of men
from the battle front in France.
Dispatches from the Belgian war zone
yesterday indicated that this new al
lied force had begun an offensive
movement, but it is not believed by
American observers that All army Of
sufficient strength to completely up
set the German strategic campaign in
France has been assembled yet, and
1t Is probable that the effect Of the
action reported yesterday, which may
have been fought two days ago, in
which the Germans are alleged to
have suffered reverse, will be to
accelerate the efforts of the Kaiser's
generals to bring about decisive
action cast of Paris and west Of Yer
dun before the situation in Belgium
becomes critical.
The defensive campaign Of the
French and English forces since the
Germans crossed the Belgian frontier
has been conducted on the soundest
military principles. The policy Of
the commanders of these armies of
accepting battle in strong defensive
positions. inhicting heavy losses on
the enemy and delivering brilliant
counterstrokes when occasion Of
fered as they retired before forces
too numerous to be defeated IN gen
eral battle. has preserved tho morale
of the troops and inspired them with
confidence. The soldiers of the al
lied armies to-day are alert and
eager, full of cheerful confidence IN
their leaders and sanguine OF ult-
mate success.
The French and English generals,
holding the inside Of vast crescent
SHAPED line, one base resting on the
impregnable fortress Of Belfort, near
the Swiss frontier, the other on Paris,
occupy an Incompatible strategic po-
sition. The country back OF them
has not been trod by the invader.
No railroad lines have been de-
stroyed, no telegraph wires have been
cut by raiding cavalry. The french
armies have been steadily reinforced
bv troops from the south and south
east. no apprehension being felt con,
corning the attitude of Spain ana
Italy, until they are nearly IL not
quite. as strong numerically as the
invading Germans. That the mis-
takes of the war Of 1870, which was
marked by the shutting up OF heavy
forces in fortified places, will not be
repeated was evidenced by the aban-
donment of the strongly fortlhed
most Of Rheims. The defence OF
Rheims would have required force
Hnh
tionably be Of greater service on inc
battle line than locked up IN a ior-
tress, and The action OF the war
Office in ordering the abandonment
of Rheims may presage the abandon
ment of Paris and the assembling OF
such of the army Of General Cal
lieni as may be available for active
field service at the point on the long
drawn out German line selected by
the General staff for the delivering
Of the grand counter stroke when
will mark the beginning OF the allled
effort TO drive the Germans out OF
France and to carry the war INTO the
enemy's country.
Occupying interior lines and com
handing routes Of communication
that have not been touched, the
massing by the allied commanders OF
a superior force at the point select
ed for the first great aggressive ef.
fort Of the campaign TO rid France OF
the invading Germans should not
prove a difficult military. problem,
Opinions differ as to the time the
expected counter stroke may be eX-
pected. In some quarters it is be-
lieved that a fortnight may clapse
before the commanders Of the allied
armies consider themselves strong
enough to risk a battle, which, If IT
should go against them, might imperil
the allied cause in the west, and that
the interval will be utilized in fur
Their weakening the invading armies
bv a continuance Of the Fabian policy
which has characterized the retreat
from the Belgian frontier. In other
quarters a change from defensive to
aggressive warfare by the allies Is eX-
pected this week. Meanwhile the
world awaits with the keencst inter
est the contest which will show
whether the great German war ma
chine. which has passed like steam
roller over forces Of inferior power
through Belgium and Northern
France. will prove as efficient in the
open field against forces at least
equal, and possibly superior, in num-
berS.