The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-15

70 Explain the present operations In
northwestern France which are reported
in dispatches announcing the German ad-
vance upon Ostend, the seizure Of Lille
and the mnSsing OF allied troops south OF
Lille and north OF Aryds II is necessary TO
review briefly the progress OF recent
events In the western neld. II Is similarly
essential 10 recognize that IN the last -FOUR
weeks the whole German plan has been
rodifed---or rather q new plan has been
adopted.
During the first elk weeks OF the war,
that Is. from tho attack upon Liege to the
battle OF tho Narne. the German General
STAFF attempted 10 destroy the military
power OF France by launching one terrific
drive at Paris Of the whole German mill
tary machine. gave Tor n few army CORPS
retained on the Russian boundary. Could
France be crushed. Paris captured. the
chief enemy OF the Germans would be
eliminated In the first weeks or war, the
German masses could then go east ana
dispose OF Russia. After that England
would remain. but only as IA sea power.
This followed the strategy or Napoleon IN
his Austerlitz campaign.
Nv narrow margin this colossal effort
failed Al the battle OF the Marine the
Germans were thrown back. They were
not routed, hut II was necessary for them
to fall back upon selected POSITION, con-
centrate and rcft. This work covered
tho period from September until Septem-
Der 10. when the Germans were again
concentrated behind the Aisne, all armies
again in touch and their line OF com
munlcations intact.
Once this concentration was achieved
there began promptly fresh EFFORT to
take the offensive. From the Oise to
the Meuse, along the broad front on
which Scissors and Rheims are placed
lr fnilONYlnQ the
end OF the German retreat from the
Marne desperate struggles which marked
the nnh attempt OF the Germans 10 re-
sumo their initial plan. to crush France
BY single blow.
But 10y September 20 1t was plain that
the opportunity had vanished gains in
certain places we're made, but only minor
gains, while allied resistance behind in
trenchments became more and moro sus-
tanned II was plain to the whole world
then, probably to the German General
stan before, that the FIRST German attempt.
after great temporary triumph. had
missed II remained 10 begin another.
Before a new attack could be made,
however, certain conditions had to he faced
In their rush toward Paris the Germans
had left the Belgian army behind them
at Antwerp, an English force at Ostend
and the French Channel ports uninvested.
Paris taken. the main French armies de-
turn and were without value. But Paris
untaken, the allied military power I'M
broken they constituted after the battle OF
the Marine n grave menace to German
communications, n peril to their rear
II they were compelled 10 leave the Aisne
and Il drain upon their field armies. since
they held back troops needed in France.
Thus In the last week OF September II
became clear that the Germans. tenn
norarlly abandoning their offensive In
France, were setting out methodically,
deliberately. 10 clear the fank and rear
In Belgium OF the enemy. First in the
road was Antwerp. Until Antwerp was
CAPTURED their whole hold in Belgium
was precarious, FOR Antwerp wac east Of
the Scheldt, and from II Belgian troops
could easily reach German oommuni-
cations
So tho Germans proceeded to besiege
and take Antwerp. This gave them pos
session OF Belgium east OF the Scheldt
that Is more than three-quarters OF the
Kingdom. II also gave them the line oe
the Scheldt River as barrier against
, any Anglo Belgian attack coming east
from Ostend But II did not greatly
shorten their line, and II left them still
/ faced with the possibility OF the eventual
arrival on their front from Ostend. from
Calais, from Dunklrk from Bonlogne, Of
British armies sent across the Channel.
The next step and the one which now
! fills the press was logically an advance OF
/ the Germans ia the Channel. Look at the
battle maps OF the day and II Will be seen
that the German line. after coming
straight east from Metz and Noyon. turns
vaguely toward Lille. Ghont and Ant
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