The sun., 1914-09-12
Germans Advance Into
France Reaches Crisis
For Allies Defeat Means Severe Loss and Disaster if Routed
For Germans 1t Means Being Put
on the Defensive


From THE EVENING Sun Of yesterday.
To-day. which closes the sixth week Of
tho European war. sees all the French
armies. aided by practically the whole of
the British eSpeditionsry army. fghting
the larger part OF the hcld army Of Ger
many on "a line which goes east from
Paris to Vitry-le- Francois, north to Ver-
dun and thence south TO switzerland.
along the great barrier forts OF Toul,
Epinal and Befort.
While the conflict is still going on.
therefore, 1t is perhaps timely to examine
briefly certain circumstances, TO answer
certain questions. 10 canvass certain pos
>ib.iltes.
FIRST. why have the French armies
elected to stand on tho present line? p?
NmpIy and obviously because further re-
tr,at would 'perm't German armies TO
intervene between PARIS on the west and
the great bulwark OF rortresscs toward
the ArgOnrc, tie NOsges and tho Mcurth"
and MOsc.lr rivers. Up 10 this moment
tho French retreat has been slowly south.
the es stern flank protected by tho from
tier fortresses from Nerdun 10 Belfort .
tine western. after long being in peril be-
cause OF German fianking operations, came
homc squarely on Paris moro than a
week. ago.
ii the French left should retreat fur
ther It would have to swing west, not
south. surrender its connection with the
barrier fortreses and the French right.
This army now fighting about Nancy.
defending the gap between the barrier
| fortresses OF Toul and Epinal. the east.
ern gate to Paris. and the French centre.
facing north and northwest from Nitry-
/ le Francois to Verdun, would have to be
/ left 20 do the best they could. assailed
on the east from Lorraine by gen. Won
. frnp IA ht.t ha
Crown Princes troops and on the west
and presently on tho south by Duke Al
brcchts army.
The left. made up OF French and
! English armies and the garrison of Paris
| would In turn be open TO attack north
east and presently south by tho German
! armies. which have come south from
Belgium. and would he thrown back on
/ Paris and envcloped. or would have to 90
| south Of the Loire, leave Paris TO defend
| herself and lose all opportunity to come
| To the aid Of tho right and centre in the
| east.
! In this situation the French have
| elected to fgnt, and upon the port or
| ~ this line, which constitutes in som,
fashion the very lie limo connecting Paris
/ and the eastern frontier. on a front OF
| some fifty miles between Montmrail and
| Vitry-le Francois the terrific force OF
German attack is falling in final at
| tempt to S7n1rot" the two StronrhDlus O
| French resistance--Paris and the eastern
forts and the armies In and about them.
such is the situation. II remains Z,
/ consider why the French have pcrmitte,
/ themselves 20 ne driven back tn n posi-
tiou ia which they must make night %
his sort. Here the answer l. twofold
First sine" Germany has % far large
population than Franc" she s able I,
maintain much greater army. Sine
Russian mobilization was slower thar
hors she was able 10 turn against Franc
an army more considerable than th'
French. even when reinforced by tn
British. aud having the offensive she wa
thlc 20 attack all the points she selected
thus enabling her TO have an overwhem
Ing adyautlEc ut the decisive point.
The problem FOR the French was I,
avoid destruction or the division Of thei
: rces until such time as the derectio'
of German troops 10 the Russian frontie
should deprive Germany uf the numerica
advantage. They were then, in the natur
OF things. compelled to retreat. always en-
deavoring 10 infict ~ great punishm"n
as possible on the Germans and yet es
pape a dangerous, decisive action.
To delay as long as possible Germa,