Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-27
GERMANS TO NOW
LINES ON MEUSE
Expert Asserts French Frontier
Forces Will Not Be Able
to Stop Advance.
WORKS HELD TO BE WEAK
Movement Of Troops for Fresh Battle
May Result in Serious MiSup
Situation Reviewed.

Washington. d e, AUG Z'.--l ne
situation along the French-GerInal
frontier seems TO be something as fol
lows. is the opinion OF a military ex-
pert here:
The part of the German army which
has been operating through Belgium
has arrived on the line OF the French
frontier between Mezieres and Mau-
beuge. This force consists OF i've
army corps-and its mission, in add
ton to overrunning Belgium. which
has been accomplished. is to open the
line of the Mouse for the main German
army centered in Longwy, and TO hold
in check or destroy all French and
English forces from Dunkirk on the
English channel, so as to prevent them
going to the assistance of the main
French army.
Could Flank the French.
In case the German center army has
or had any difficulty in crossing the
Meuse river north OF the French in
trenched camp of Verdun, a couple of
corps OF the German right army could
come south along the left bank OF the
Meuse river and take the French de-
tenders in flank. This will open the
line OF the Mouse for the German cen
ter army.
The armies confront each other
from Mezieres south and east along
the River Mouse. 1t appears that the
French have assembled their army
on this line in force TO resist the Ger
man advance. II this is the case IL is
playing into the hands of the Germans,
as the closer 10 this river the French
can be brought 10 battle, the better
will IT be for the Germans. as they
will not have so far TO go for the main
battle The German concentration on
the left wing has been successfully ac-
compIished. and if the line of the
Meuse is being occupied in force by
the French the two main armies are
now in contact.
Like Russ-Jsp Trenches.
The French line along this part OF
their frontier. which has only a few
weak, permanent works. consists of
field works or hastily constructed in
trenchments. These have about the
same strength that the Russian and
Japanese lines had in Manchuria at
the battle of Lao Yang, for instance.
The Germans method OF attack and
their great superiority in heavy field
fcient to break through these works
In a comparatively short time
The main pressure will be on a line
from Longwy toward Reims. The
French have been well aware where
the main attack was directed for some
time. and have been attempting to
meet # At first they took the Of
fensive in southern Lorraine in the
direction OF Saarburg. which If it could
succeed was the best possible place
to attempt II. The force consisted Of
FIVE corps. according to French &C
counts. and eight corps according TO
German accounts. This force was de-
cisiyely defeated and driven back on
the French fortress OF Toul This
more than the operations in Belgium
or at any other place was serious for
the French, and appears to have been
a severe reverse.
Weaken Right Flank.
The French therefore are withdraw
ing all the troops possible from the
right flank in Alsace and along the
Vosges mountains TO reinforce their
center in the area between Verdun and
Maubeuge. To move a great body OF
troops in this manner is an exception I.
may end in a terrible mixup in the .
lines of communication for the whole I
distance between their second line
fortresses of Langres and Reims.
The German troops are pressing
these retiring French columns as much .
as possible so as TO hold them and to
quickly find any weak spots in the line
through which they MY pour through.
In this connection II IS interesting 10
note that some dispatches state that
a great force Of Austrians has been as
sembled at Innsbruck. Austria. This
point is about one hundred and fifty
miles from the French frontier Oppo-
site Belfort Innsbruck is connected
by many lines OF railway. not only to
the southern part OF the German from
tier. but also IS as convenient to the
German center between Metz and
Longwy.
Strategic Reserve Point.
This place is also connected with
many railways TO the eastern frontiers
OF both Germany and Austria that Dor
der on Russia. and IS only about 50
miles from the Italian frontier No Z
better point for a strategical reserve
for the two empires could be found.
rms Is one OF the Illustrations Of |
the great advantage that Germany |
and Austria derive from having the
military Inner line"
Inc attack, especially along the Ger.
man center opposite Longwy and the
right around the Maubeuge-LHle line /
will 90 ahead with great strength to-
morrow until fl breaks through.