New-York tribune., 1914-11-16
Full Mobilization by the French
Will Soon Begin to Tell on the
Western War Front.


Yesterdays issue of The Tribune gave very
natural explanation of the failure of the French
government so far to put into the field the full
strength of the French first and second lire
armies. 1t confirmed the conclusion-so easily
deducible from the development of the French
campaign up to the early part Of September
that Frances mobilization was greatly retarded
by lack of sufficient military supplies.
The French War Office had to place many large
orders for shoes in the United States. 1t hadn't
enough modern khaki uniforms to go around and
many French troops were obliged to fight in the
old-fashioned blue coats and red trousers Uni
forms were resurrected which had done service
twenty or forty years ago. AS a French Senator
had stated in debate only few weeks before the
war broke out, the artillery arm was short on
supplies as well as below the proper standard in
strength These defects were guessed at more or
less in August when General Jofre, with made
quate forces, had to contend against the fully
modified and equipped armies Of Germany and
was forced to choose between letting the Ger
mans overrun Belgium and Northeastern France
and abandoning the French eastern frontier de-
fences from Verdun to Belfort.
He made the correct choice. Assuming the Of
fensive with the forces he had in hand, he tried
to retard the German invasion through Belgium
by striking at Strassburg and Metz. He pushed
small army into upper Alsace and crossed with
larger army into Lorraine. Those movements
failed, because the Germans countered in greater
strength They had decided superiority in
numbers all along the line. Yet General JOffre's
strategy was not at fault. Indeed, in spite of its
failure, it was praised by so high a German
authority as Field Marshal Won der Goltz.
The French, even with British aid, could not
protect Belgium. Neither could they hold the
Mons-Charleroi line. The Allies were greatly
outnumbered by the forces with which Won Kuck
and Won Bulow made their dash for Paris. But
by September the French mobilization had pro-
ceeded far enough to give General Joffre the
strength he needed in order to challenge the
progress of the German right wing. His ener-
getic offensive won the battle of the Marine and
threw the German armies back to the fortified
positions which they have since been holding
from Noyon east to Verdun.
1t has been estimated that the French forces
modified up to the middle of September num-
bered about 100000. Frances losses so far
must be we'll over 100000, so that the reinforce
ment received since the middle of September
could do little more than fill up the gaps. But it
must be remembered that Frances conscription
system is much more inclusive than Germany's
ever was and that France had at the outbreak of
the war nearly 100000 trained men to call to
the colors The supply of men far exceeded the
supply of materials, and the French govern
ments chief problem so far has been TO make
good deficiencies in equipment.
There is nothing improbable i the announce
ment that General Joffre will soon have two or
more new armies at his disposal The French
maximum of efficiency in the field has not yet
been reached, and will not be reached before
next spring. At that time, too, the British con-
tingent in France will be raised from 900 to
we'll over 100000, and the Allies will begin to
make of their normal superiority over the
German forces which can be assigned to duty in
the western war theatre.
If the Allies maintain the stntns quo in the
west for the next three or four months they will
be doing all that their general scheme of STRAIT
egy requires them to do. They do not need to
seek decisive result just yet When they get
the upper hand in men and m aterial they will
develop an offensive of their own responding to
the conditions which may then exist.
General Joffre would probably incline to an
offensive movement through Asace-Lorraine.
Alsace is open as far as the Rhine, and the
French hold some of the passes in the Vosges to
the south of Metz. In his book, Glow Ger
MANY Makes War" General Won Bernhard dis
cussed the possibility of the German armies hav-
ing to meet an attack from tlss quarter while
invading France through Belgium. He recon-
mended in that case a retirenMnt by the Ger