New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-15
Copyright tel. by George W smauey ,

much further to the north than the
French staff had expected"
But # Namur and the Meuse -Sambre
base were not good enough for base
from which TO interrupt any German
movement whatever, they were good
for nothing That" said my friend,
'fs a harsher criticism than | wish to
make. but | do not wish TO contest IT"
He added:
AT any rate, mistake so grave rs
that has one value. II is not likely to
be repeated"
And with that leave subject
which II is not pleasant to touch.
What ! say is said because all things
must be taken into account in forming
an estimate of the near future. And
il is certain that very competent men
think the next week or two likely to
try not only mems souls but the brains
of the army. and the brains of any
army must be the staff.
German Antwerp.
OF Antwerp as naval base II will
be time enough TO speak when IL be-
comes possible, should 1t ever become
possible, for the Germans to use IL as
a naval base. Submarines might pos
sibly find their way there through the
Dutch canals. II they did, there would
still be between them and the sea the
Scheldt, and to send any kind of war
craft through the Scheldt would be.
like the use Of the canals, a violation
of Dutch neutrality.
The Germans, I'VE all know, care moth
ing for neutrality nothing for treaties,
nothing for the Hague rules to which
they are party, and nothing for the
rights of any State which stands IN
their way. But it is probable that, for
the moment, this neutrality of Holland
is of greater value 10 Germany than
the Scheldt as a naval highway can
be. Rotterdam is for certain purposes
German port; port of entry Tor
neutral vessels with cargoes intended
ultimately for Germany. What the
German view is We do not yet know.
The German papers tell us that Ant
werp is 10 be q base for Zeppelins frst
and then for feet for the invasion of
England. The latter 10 remote. The
Zeppelin matter is best disposed OF by
the remark which came this morning
from America. II will be easier for
English aeroplanes TO deal with Yep
pelins at Antwerp than at Dusseldorf
The Coming Zeppeiins.
The English made no secret OF their
belief that sooner or later-and prooa-
blv sooner~the Germans will dispatch
Zeppelins to England. and that their
cargo OF three and one-half tons each
will consist of bombs. OF the military
and naval schemes of defence against
this particular kind of brigandage ~
would be wrong TO speak; though prob
ably the Germans know more about IL
than the English public knows. II is
a matter TO which German spies are
believed 10 have given their most par.
ticular attention. Il IS the bellei OF
the Home Secretary, in whose Jurisdie-
ton the SPY business belongs, that the
spies have been rooted out ana that
from this source there IS no loheeI
env danger. ! cannot hear OF anypouy
else who shares with Mr.. Mckenna this
comfortable illusion. STILL IL Is sal
10 be silent on all military or naVal
measures for the future near OF re-
mote. A.. o;n
TARGET for German bomb-practice,
shows itself very little concerned at
this prospect. The Londoner is ratner
disposed TO grumble at the little IN
conveniences to which defensive meas
utes subject him than TO think ABOUT
the danger they are meant to avert or
10 minimize. 1t is two or three weeks
since the streets were darkened. The
authorities press the point more and
more and almost day by day. People
submit. of course-they have no choice
but they complain. There are more
accidents. The streets are less safe
to the pedestrian. The pickpockSet ana
the East End rough have better
field for their various industries. Inc
shopkeepers say that customers no
longer gather about their sombre WIN
dows. The notorious has put out us
headlights; its number is not now as
tinguishsble, and you set out Tor tue-
ney when en- you H NInt these 20 - an NJ
80 tbeir use. The terror which the
Germans hope to inspire is forgotten
Ne' i'"N' G, W. s.