New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-10
Moves on the Big War Board.

n serious campaign has a sentimental interest
paris has kent vigil for forty-three years at the
has. Of its statue Of Strassbrrg All French prlue
& hound nm in the recovery Of Asaoe and Lor-
rane-the two provinces wrenched from Fran'e
in the hour of her btterest defeat
Except for that loss the republic might have
accommodated itself in time TO friendly relations
With Germany. But Alsace and Lorraine re
manned unreconciled as well as Frarce, and the
desire TO reestablish the old eastern boundary mas
been the controlling motive Of French diplomacy
for more than a generation. The Russian alliance
had that purpose in view, md the Triple Entente
though not based upon it, meant to France
larger opportunity than had ever been offered be-
f,6 70 work for the recovery of her alienated tee
Titory.
Now French troops are the soil of Alsace,
and according TO Paris reports are being wei
coined as deliyerers by the Alsatans. Mdlhausen
has been occupied. and later dispatches say that
the country has been cleared far north from
Mulhausen COmar
General Jodre, the head Of the French General
stan. is reported TO be with the invading FORCE
which would seem to give the movement serious
military aspect If it is the beginning OF lot
ward campaign. that campaign is probably Ill
rected toward Southern Germany rather thah
toward Berlin. General Joffre is on the I'D route
down the Danube TO Bavaria anC Vienna. Yet 1t
seems improbable that he should move in that oil
recIion leaving the main German armies on the
FrgncoGerman border and in Luxembourg and
Belgium menacing his flank and rear. 1t may
be that he merely intends to operate north from
Colmar against the rear and left flank of the }7r-
man forces deployed along the frontier TO the west
Of Strassburg Whatever his plans, his move was
daring one and his succe in entering Al re
has kndled great enthusiasm all over Franc.
If France, Great Britain and Belgium are 10
undertake a serious offensive movement against
Germany rudmentary strategy would seem to
point at an invasion Of the Prussian Rhine Prov
ince and westphalia by way of Cologne. In ais
book entitled Germany and the Next War;" pub
Iished couple Of years ago General Won Bern
hardi. Of the Germany army pointed out that tl4
open stretches of the lower Rhine Valley.
There are no formidable defensive works along
the Belgian and Dutch borders, German strategy
not having thought it necessary fortify against
the Belgans and Dutch. In case of war with
France i'm which Great Britain should be involved
Il was probably considered sufficient to secure the
friendly cooperation of Holland and Belgium Of,
failing in that, TO seize the Dutch and Belgian
lines OF defence for German use The high value
nut on Liege by the German War Office is demon
strated by Germanys original demand on Belgium
not only for the free use Of the Belgian railways
hut for the possession of Liege as guarantee Of
gpod faith.
According to General Won Bernhard, naval rs
well as military policy would incline France aud
Great Britain TO take northern route Of attack,
since By that method the armies would not only
cover all the Channel and North Sea ports nearest
10 England but would also threaten the great Ger
man naval bas, at Wilhemshaven. II that base
could be cut of ON the land side as well as block
AIDED by sea the condition of the fleet tied up in
would soon become very precarious.
Germany acted on Won Bernhardi's theories in
reaching out for the possession Of Liege even
before war with Great Britain had been declared.
That city was the key to the Belgian frontiet.
Had the possession of Maestricht been Of equal
importance Germany would certainly have made
similar demands on Holland II Germany could
have isolated Antwerp cut the railroads leading
south from Ostsnd. Duukirk and Calais aud TUNED
the French armies back from Northeastern France
the mobilization Of British troops in France would
hive been greatly hiDdered and the French first
line Of defence would have been pushed back one
hundred miles.
Now Belgium promises to be til first battle
ground Of the great European war. English,
French and Belgian troops are concentrated there
10 oppose the two northernnost German armies,
that before Liege and that holding the grand
duchv Of Luxembourg. n he Germans win the first
clash the allies Will fall Jack toward the Frenn
-. 70 t,a sfttes win forward movement INTO