New Britain herald., 1914-08-20
CANNON'S ROAR WILL
 SILENCE IDLE GUESSING
Herman Ridder Says History Of
 Europe Depends on War.

title: "The War Situation from Day to Day." the staats-Zeitung prints this article in English written by Her man Ridder:
 The hour is at hand when the 1 prophecies and expectations of many years are to be put to the test We are shortly to deal with hard facts.
 Will Silence Conjecture.
 The voice of the big guns will silence idle conjecture. In Belgium, the scene of so many great engage ments the armies are preparing for the greatest of all battles. The his- ] tory of Europe depends upon the out come The German general starr when face to face with the desperate situation of fighting Russia and France decided promptly that an in- 1 vasion of Belgium was an absolute necessity under the circumstances France had prepared for a similar step. It is true that Germany violated the neutrality of both Belgium and l Luxemburg.
 
 empire together with blood and iron, l maintained that treaties and compacts 1 in the hour of danger were not worth the paper they were written on. "Das ', viele Blut wischt die Tinte aus," as we say in German.
 Praise Belgian Courage.
 The keystone of the whole plan of the general staff against France is the |. occupation of Belgium. The Germans could not have anticipated the des- rerate courage with which the Bel lians entered upon a defense of their frontier.
 But nevertheless, the plans have been carried out with grim deter imitation. Belgium has won the admiration of friend and foe, but the German advance continues step by step, day by day, with irre- sistib1e force.,
 The lines have been drawn and the first engagement of the long series of battles will be fought to determine if the way to Paris via man army.
 Enormous Army Massed.
 It is apparent from the reports from Brussels, Paris and London, misleading and blazed as they gen. orally appear, that the Germans have massed an enormous army for offensive operations in the north.
 We assume the concentration of the army of the Mouse, which oper- ated against Liege; the first army of the Moselle, which operated against Luxemburg, and the second army of the Moselle, which, passing through Luxemburg, headed directly west into Belgium, shows that a com bined army of French, Belgian and English troops has been gathered to oppose the invading forces.
 It is difficult to explain the fail ure or reports of victories of the English troops except by the assump- tion that they have not as yet ar rived on the scene.
 Plans Are Screened.
 It has been reported via London that the Germans will attempt a turn ing movement around the left flank of the enemy in order to force their left wing back upon Brussels and Antwerp.
 However, the cavalry screen thrown out by the general staff would effect ually hide their plans. It cannot be definitely stated that such a turning movement is under way.
 The German front extends from Liege on the north to Muelhausen in Alsace in the south. Against the ex- treme left wing of the German army the French started an offensive move ment from Belfort for the purpose of seizing and holding the passes through the Vosges mountains.
 The French were turned back in two battles fought near Muelhausen. Coincident with the advance on the part of the French from Belfort, an attacking army, with headquarters at Espinal, marched through the Saales passes in the Vosges and another from Nancy has strassburg as it's objective.
 Doubts Paris 'Victories.''
 Paris has reported a number of ''victories'' in connection with the ad- vance of these troops. In all proba- bility they are nothing more than skirmishes.
 The events along the French bor- der will await the outcome of the Belgian campaign.
 St. Petersburg will await the re- suits with the keenest anxiety. The whole problem is contained in the question:: Can Germany invade north- ern France and attack from two sides before the Russian army gains suf- ficient impetus to make such a plan impracticable?
 The next ten days should give us a very clear idea as to the probabil- ity of such an undertaking. A victory in Belgium assures an advance on Paris; defeat along the line from Namur to Louvain would place the German army in desperate straits.
 Russia's Handicaps.