The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1914-09-17
THF FIRST MONTH OF WAR.

A. the opening vi lilo ,
we'll understood Gor distinguished
German general had written It all Out
in a book) that the grand strategy
Of GERMANY would be 20 concentrate
the flower of her army against the
French. overwhelm and scatter them
in the first two or three weeks OF
the war, invest Paris, AND then turn
AGAINST Russia in an equally swift
an onslaught. At the present Wfit-
ing, with the war over month IN
progress, nothing of the klno mas
happened. The French and the
British armies are intact and every
where in touch; they have fallen
back upon the line Of forts and strong
w intrenched positions, provided
years ogo by France to meet the me
vitable German attack; and ter the
past three weeks trey have not only
presented an impregnable wall OF de-
tense. through which the Germans
have failed to break; but in the rear
ward movement to their present
position, they have fought a series
of defensive battles in selected ana
entrenched positions, which, on the
theory that the losses are three 10
one against the attacking force, must
have cost the German army already
not less than 200, 900 men in killed,
wounded, and otherwise disabled.
The Germans, it is true, have tore
ed back the left wing OF the allies;
but they have dune this at an enor-
nous military and moral cost. The
military cost has been due TO the
tact that here they found themselves
opposed by 100000 professional
soltiers, men who, during their
seven years of service with the Colots,
had been so thoroughly drilled III
practice at the rifle butts, that they
were cracksmen; which fact, coupl-
ed with the traditional steadlaesS of
British troops under fire, enabled
them, against odds of between two
and three to one, to fight serleS Of
defensive actions in selected positions,
from which they did trighttul execu-
ton upsn the heavily maSsed
columns of the Germans.
To the enormous losses in men
entailed in this thanking movement,
is to be added the even more serious
moral loss which Germany has in
Cured in barterIng her national sense
of honor in exchange for the oppor-
tunity presented by the undefended
French.Belgian line to rush across
the French border in overwhelming
numbers. France and Germany had
both guaranteed the neutrality Of
Belgium. That France intended to
stand by her p'ed!e is abundantlv
proved by the fact that, when Ger
many made her rush through Bel
gian. France, even in spite Of he
delay afforded by the staunch Bel
gian resistance, had notime to con.
centrate her troops IN Northeastern
France in sufficient numbers to check
the German onslaught. Nothing
that Count Won Berpstorff OF any
other apologist eff the German breach
of good faith may say, can make
the American people think that Ger
many believed France was intending
to do that which she herself has
done. The facts are all absolutely
and conc!usively against such sup
position. So little preparation had
France made to resist a German in
vasion through Belgium, that, had
it not been for the totally unexPect-
ed interposition of England on be-
half Of Belgium, and the magnificent
fight against overwhelming odds put
up by the small Belgian army, Ger
many to-day would be inside the
very gates of Paris.
The French line of defense stretch
ed from Belfort to the southern limits
Of the Belgian frontier. North OF
that she believed that her defense
consisted of a sheet of poper' witt,
the solemn attest thereon of herself
and her great German neighbour
The loss to France and Belgium of
the far lands that are now being
overrun with fire and sword by
Germany, is, after all, trivial com
pared with the enormous loss Of
moral prestige suffered bv the ruth.
less invader-a loss which no care.
fully worded sophisticat,on of the
diplomat or the historian of the future
can ever redeem.
The position of the allies TO-DAY
is strategically and tactically very
strong. Based on line of fortified
tons reaching from Belfort on the
south almost to Paris itself; witt