The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1914-10-09
STRATECISTS EXPLAIN Why BRITISH
HAVE FAILED IN BELGIANS RELIEF
CBy Jack Remington.)

\by Jack Remington
Patriotic Englishmen say England
entered the European war because
Germany violated the neutrality of
Belgium and England must defend
that neutrality. This being the stu
alton, the question naturally arises as
to why the English have not sent SOL
diers to aid the Belgian troops in stop
ping the advance of Kaiser Wilhelm S
men, who seem to be in possession of
a greater part of Belgium and are now
storming the Belgian port Of Ant
werp, which also is the temporary seat
of the government of the little king
dom.
Belgians Fight Unaided.
In the early stages of the war I'M
official dispatches chronicled the land
ing of great numbers of English
troops at Ostend, the advices assert
ing these troops were to cooperate
with the Belgian army at Antwerp in
driving the Germans back toward
their frontier. Official advices have
failed to confirm the reported landing
of any great number Of English at
Ostend, and news advices have failed
to chronicle the presence Of any Eng
lish soldiers in the fighting around
Antwerp.
Why the English have not gone di-
rectly to the assistance of the Bel
gians still remains unanswered, but
several explanations are advanced by
strategists
Not Sure of Waterways.
One is that during the early stages
of the war England was not sure OF
her ground in the North sea and die
not wish to hazard the sending of g
large expeditionary force to foreign
port as far north as Ostend, and in
stead landed her forces at French
port In the meantime the German
advance through Belgium has assum
ed such proportions as to threaten
France, and the English who were 60
ing to the assistance Of the Belgian:
had to line up with the French in al
Eattempt to turn back the German ii
ial wave. That the English sough
to aid the Belgian troops is the claim
of Englishmen, who point out that tn
first battles in which the Englisl
troops were engaged were fought OF
Belgian soil.
Ostend Force Too Small.
When the German advance continu
ed into France the right wing swep
beyond Brussels, and the Germans
were in such great numbers that i
would have required a large force O.
British coming from Ostend to hav'
made any impression. A small force
landed at Ostend easily could hav'
been cut off and .annihiliated by tn
Germans. Apparently the Germa,
general staff ha .dthis in mind whe,
he RICH wing was sent so far int
Belgium.
The occupation of Brussels by tn
Germans not only had it's moral effec
IN Belgium, but acted as a safeguar'
against the landing of British force
sack of the German right wing. Will
the Germans in possession of railway
from Brussels to AK, the great Ger
nan base, and other lines that woul'
'nable them to bring up reinforce
nents in a hurry, it would require
mammoth British army to attemp
my important movement in the rea
of the German army.
Would Tie-up English.
1t is probable the British, if the.
have any troops to spare, could SEM
! small expeditionary force to the re
ief of Antwerp, but the advantage
to be gained from such move ar
man sources that the German attac]
questionable. 1t is admitted by Ger
on Antwerp is to bottle up the Belgian
army and the advantages unquestion
ably are with the Germans. Unless ;
British relief column could be sent il
sufficient strength to defeat the Ger
mans operating against Antwerp it
too, might be bottled up in Antwerp
If large British column was sent t.
The relief of Antwerp the German
strategy undoubtedly would be chang
ed to meet the situation.
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