Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-10-15
TODAY 5 MOVES
IN THE WAR ZONE,
|. What THEY mean
By J. W. \. MASON.
Former European Manaser OF the
IniIed prrss.--


NEW YORK. Oct a.; ti1 a. nj
General Won Boehn has failed TO
block the retreat to Tho south Of
tbe allied forces VINO have been
resting at Osteud. Tha French vic
torv at Ypres shows tie way is clear
at present for the escana of the sore
IN. fatigued Belgian army and its
british reinforcements. Ypres is 25
miles south Of Ostend and commands
the junction of three bf the four main
highways that run from Ostend south
to the French military lines.
The retention Of Npreg by the
Freuch Is theatening to the southern
flank of Won Beselers army which
Is marching across Belgium with the
object of driving the Anglo-Belgian
forces into the sea. II the French
can strike from Ypres toward the
Lys river. which Won HCseler is now
using to protect his left wing, he
will be forced TO retreat or have his
flank turned.
A series of other similar counter
strokes is threatened ley both sides
throughout the battle area In West
ern Belgium and Northwestern
France. From the give and take
which is occurring, the rival
strengths appear 10 be about equal
Each of the contestants has divided
forces. Won Beseler's victorious army
from Antwerp has not united with
Won Boehn's force TO the south, and
the allied army that retreated from
Antwerp has not as far as is known.
YET joined the rescuing French CORPS.
The union of the Anglo-Belgian
force with the French at Ypres might
permit a sudden attack in overwhelm-
ing numbers against either of the two
German commands. if the British and
the Belgians were not exhausted.
There is every indication. however.
that the defense of Antwerp and the
rapid retfsat toward the North Sea
have put the Anglo-Bclgian army In
urgent need Of rest for recuporation.
There undoubtedly is reserve OF de-
fcnsive strength left. but tho spirit
necessary for a determined offensive
must wait for recovery from the fa-
tigue of nearly fortnights inces-
SAINT fighting
nc ihdI'N OF the NeilndnS 10 the
sea Will give them no military ad-
vantage if the retrcating allies es-
cape. At most. from strategic stand
point. the gain viii be forced
change of one OF the British supply
bases on the northern French coast
There can be no threat against Eng
land by a German occupation OF any
of the North Sea or channel ports.
AS long as the British navy com
mands the sea, no German transports
could be assembled anywhere along
the Belgian or French coast for an
invasion of England, while seaboard
Zeppelin stations would be subject TO
destruction by the allies warships.
Permanent occupation of the
French and Belgian coast towns will
seriously lengthen and thus weaken
the German battle line, unless it CO.
incides with a retirement from the
present outhern positions near the
Aisne. Diplomatic reasons may de-
mand this change in strategy. II Ger
man statesmen can enter a teacc
conference while their troops hold
French and Belgian forts, moro ad-
vanta geous terms might be obtained
than if French interior towns We're
hold la the fist case. England as
we'll a. France would be pitaliy con
cerned. in the second. ONLY Franco