The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-31

NEW ORR. Dec. S1.-The end Of
the yea and with it. the conclu-
sion ofsve months fighting, finds
only ttr positive results accom-
pliSEed ipich, TO a practical GER
tainty, VI continue as permanent
factors hthe campaign. These are
the expulon OF German. commerce
from the has: the freeing of Servia,
and Russis occupation of Eastern
Galicia.
EyerythlE else that has happened
IN the wa zones is tentative. In
cast and yst. indecision dominates
the situatio. for while Germany has
been beatef in her main objective,
Germany'st efeat has not been ac-
complished.
The Auead predictions that the
German enllre was to be disinte-
grated and Re House OF HohenZol-
Tern exiled n a European congress
after the VIZ, have vanished with
most OF the other early prophecies
OF the war. ! decisive overthrow OF
Germany Isl 10 longer among the
probabilities.i The end Of the year
sees Germany being slowly forced
back, but the fort is almost super
human. Berlifs capture would pro-
ducc more exhaustion among the al
lies than would be the worth of that
adventure.
Dissppointmer has dominated all
the wars developments, and all the
belligerents: il would be but log
ically in keeping if the ultimate
peace were similarly disappointing.
Belgium's partripation in the war
with furious patriotism struck the
keynote OF indecEion. by interposing
unexpected Obstacles in the path OF
the German adva,ce on Paris. Llege
and the Belgium lrmy held the Ger
mans sufficiently for the English
eXpeditionary coT7s to arrive, and
ii was the English, who, in turn
checked General Won kluck ana
saved the French army during the
retreat through rorthern France.
The German army vas thrown out or
its stride by thess interludes, and
Paris was saved.
But there followed Immediately
an indecisive result for the allies.
for the preservation OF Paris. ana
though General Joffre won victory
which will take rank among the de-
cisive conflicts of history, the sue
cess was not followed up. While the
allied nations were gXulting at the
flight of the Germans, the latter
halted at the Aisne, on SEPTEMBER
l.. nave ever
Why the allied armies allowed the
Germans to stop at TIE Aisne is one
of the mysteries of the 1914 fighting.
Field Marshal French reported at
the time IL was believed only a rear
guard had been left at the Aisne.
This may be the true answer to the
riddle. The allies mistoolI the initial
strength of the Germans when the
battle of the Aisne began. and by
o., f,atn
the battle line, gave the enemy time
necessary to recover from the eX-
haustion OF the Marine retreat.
Whether or not this was the rea-
son why the Germans succeeded in
ciinzing to the heights OF the Aisne,
il has proven the most costly error
of the year. Once entrenched. the
Germans repealed all frontal attacks
and forced the allies 70 attempt out
nsnking maneuvers.
After Antwerp.
For a month. from mid-September
until the middle of October. the allies
sent columns northward. trying to
out1ank the enemy: but the Ger
mans met every new move with a
commensurate. Finally. on October
3. the Germans captured Antwerp
and then rushed rapidly across Bel
gum. occupying Ostend on octo-
Der i.
Thereafter. the Germans presented
no flank to be turned by the west
ern army. and the battle line was
continuous from the North sea
through western Belgium and north
ern France to Luxembourg.
At this stage. the Germans tiled 10
regain the general offensive which
they lost at the battle Of the Marine.
They sought to extend their line
from Ostend alon6 the Belgian and
French coast TO Calais. Then be-
San the third struggle OF the western
campaign. As a counter effect, the
allies attempted to pierce the Ger
man line at Arras. which is the
main northern outer gateway to the
German communications. indie
cision again resulted. After series
OF the nerccsC conflicts Of tho war.
in which the numerically inferior
English army particularly distin-
guished itself. only q draw resulted.
The allies saved the coast and the
Germans saved their communica-
west rests at the close OF tho year.
Franco German Border Haired.
A series of subordinate encounters
has been in constant progress along
the Franco-German border through
out tho year. almost independent Of
the major conflicL further TO the
west. At the beginning of the cars
paign the French attempted an Of
fensive OF their own in Alsace and
Lorraine. but speedily were COM
Delled to abandon both Faulty
strategy and nervous uncertainty OF
the part or tho troops gaze local