New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-09
London "Daily Chronicle"
Advises Against Too
Great Optimism.
SAYS FEW GERMAN
DEAD ARE FOUND
Newspaper Declares Advantage
Is with Allies, but Questions
Meaning of Programme.
[By Gable to The Tribune

London, Sept. 9.-"The Daily Chron-
icle" to-day publishes the following:
ain the great battle-perhaps the
most decisive of modern history-that
has been raging along 100 miles Of
| front between Paris and Verdun since
Sunday, the first round has been won
| by the allied British and French
armies. Nearly all along the line the
Germans are in retreat for the first
time since the opening of hos.ilitles.
The enemy has received a distinct
check in the western theatre of war.
I Tie French Seventh Army, which is
attacking the German right wing in
flank, has advanced something like
thirty miles since the movement be-
gan.
Eastward along the cur cd front
which stretches to Verdun there was
fierce fighting, but the Germans did
not break through, and at Vitry-le
Francois, at the apex Of their front,
they we're driven back. In Lorraine
and Alsace the results were likewise
favorable. The German attempt to
strike southwark between Nancy and
Verdun WAS repulsed, and the French
regained somo positions in Northern
Vosges. All prospects, therefore, 80
far as we are allowed 10 know them,
seem hopeful.
zone must not overrate the Advan-
tage. II the Germans we've driven
back after an obstinate resistance and
in consequence Of heavy losses, the sd-
vancing allies would find q great many
German dead and report them, which
they have not done. They would also
capture some German artillery, where
as they can boast Of nothing more In
that line than q machine gun company
and some ammunition carts.
1.-THE inference is that the giving OF
ground by the Germans, like that by
the allies last week, has been strategic,
and we do not yet know the end Of
their strategy. 1t is possible that GER
tain features OF II, particularly the
contraction Of their front, have been
due to an insufficiency of mon, on &C
count of the transference Of troops.
1.-THE character and equipment OF
some Of the Landsturm men employed
in Belgium suggests that Germanys
supply of soldiers may be running
short. At any rate, the fact remains
that the allies have now for several
Gays enjoyed the advantage of the. Of
fcnsive, and there is nothing TO show
that they are on the point of having
il wrested from them. Whlle they re-
tain il the wastage In their ranks
under the head Of missing will become
very small and that Of the Germans
corresponding large. This fact alone,
even il no great victory is won, may
become very important in the condl-
lions OF the present campaign.
"Unless the Germans are able, not
merely TO recover the ground they have
lost, but TO defeat and scatter the al
lied army in front Of them, the war for
them is lost Time Is their most for
midable enemy, and every week that
masses without a decisive victory IN
France brings them nearer 10 the in
evitable.
"A decisive defeat in France would
bring the whole German military edi-
fee down like pack Of cards. 1t
would completely disillusionize the
German people concerning their proph-
cts and leaders. and might easily result
in that most desirable Of all things, a
really democratic German nation, per-
haps a republic"