Evening journal., 1914-09-15

that French strategy required tho
playing of careful waiting game,
until the advantages of early and
rapid mobilization on Gormany's part
could be neutralized That game
was played out consistently by Cen
cral Joiire who knew that the French
army ought to fight only on a field
selected by itself and only when IL
was entirely fit TO fight. II it should
win on that field. the problem Of the
German occupation of Belgium would
settle itself
The other day we referred to the
remarkable forecast of the course
of the present campaign in Belgium
and France made in an article signed
~" in "rhe Fortnightly Review" for
September 1911. The writer pre-
dicted that Liege would prove only
a temporary obstacle 10 the German
invasion and that Namur would fall
more quickly than Liege did The
capture Of these two fortresses. he
said, would allow two additional Ger
man armies 10 advance through
Southern Belgium and Luxembourg.
Continuing, he said
1T lis not easy TO ser how Ger
man success mp to that point can be
prevented, and it is TO be hoped that
France in a vain attempt to hinder
what is practically inevitable. may
not squander\her magnificent cavalry
/ which, if preserved intact. might in
/ the second phase of the struggle turn
The scale in her favor. To obtain
: her primary detectives Germany is
! prepared TO waste large number OF
men. If the French pour over into
Belgium TO meet her halfway they
will be playing her game and equali-
zing the chance of loss. An obstinate
defence, without risking too much i'm
any pitched action north of the
Rheims-Laon-La Fere line. is clearly
the best French strategy. Time would
thus be gained for England 10 play
her part. and the further German
troops have got south of the Semois
the better our chance of striking at
their rear n will not be a bad thing
for Frances chances of victory if the
first great battle of the war can be
deferred until the Germans are in the
Aisne VALLEY It viii take the Ger
mans much longer to get there than
the three weeks we shall require TO
come into action. and it is not difficult
to conceive a situation In which the
Germans might find themselves very
) uncomfortable.
t "On the other hand, there is a risk
that the French generals will not
{ relish the idea of giving ground and
- that they will strain, every effort 10
3 meet the Germans before they have
got off Belgian territory This will
e be to fight Germany's battle and "a
/ risk giving color to the whole war
{ by an initial blunder due to military
s pride The only way to battle
S the German campaign is to leave the
S development OF its inherent difficult
:. ties to time and distance The Ger
S mans will be far less formidable al
i Rethel or Vouziers, If no battles have
@ been lost before they arrive there
e than they would be at. let us say
S Libramont or even Sedan. It vii
d no doubt be disagreeable to Frencl
e sentiment to see the FIRST battles q
e the war occur on French soil, bu
S victories there would be better thar
defeats further north
e This article must have reflected
l. the matured opinion Of the Frencl
Is end British Ceneral STATS. since, eX
% cent that the Germans got as far a
f. the Marne Valley. instead Of tn
II Aisne Valley. it foreshadowed eXactl
is the development of the campaign an
" the line of action pursued by Genera
AZ Joffre. The. latter has made n
A. blunders due to political nervousness
" or military pride He has followe
l. courageously a plan thorough
~ thought out and consistent with th
T. soundest principles OF strategy
IN France may rightly congratulate her
ne self on tho sterling quality Of he
70 present military leadership.