Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-08-20
WILL FAMOUS BATTLE OF WATERLOO BE REPEATED?

struggle suggests the query, "W the Waterloo battlefield
again decide the fate Of great nations for hundred
to and incidentally remake the map of Europe2 Has
England another Wellington who strike hands with
former foe in the of the French and the
of another champion of military absoutesm in the Ger
Kaiser who would put all Europe at his feet and who
if he could succeed would be greater than Napoleon yea
the greatest military figure of all the centuries?
Waterloo is directly in the path the Germans would
naturally take in sweeping Belgium to French terri
tory toward which they plainly progressing despite the
delays neposed by the Belgans in and about Lege 1t is
only short distance in southery direction from Brussels
which the Germans have been threatening forcing the Bel
gan government to flee northwest to Antwerp
Behind the veil of secrecy imposed by the press
censorship curaned by the of ever-movng
airy thrown advance which side with tasmanc fatal
ity is seeking Waterloo field of destiny? Here the great
Napoleon after escaping from Eba to which he had been
sent by the allies nominal sovereign of the island to give
place Louis the XVIII ruler Of France his star
of hope sink below the horizon forever Here the plain
about miles from the then village of Waterloo the Eng
fish under Wellington and the Prussans under Butcher with
the Begans Dutch and Hanoverans combined their forces
and the memorable June 49, 1875 crushed the military
genius who shortly before had assembled grand army Of
100000 the frontier of Poland to invade Russia
Does Emperor William hope to repeat the of his
Prussan forbears with Butcher and Bulow the dominant
factor at Waterloo appearing at the right moment to turn
the tide of battle which had previously been running against
the allies? Does England fondy believe the shade of Well
ngton will again hover the British forces and again
bring victory this famous field?
The plans Of military campaign have thus far been
cessfuy concealed by both the allies and the Germans from
the general public however much each may able
through land spies and aerial scouts and military reconnoer
to discover regarding the designs Of the other. Nobody
with degree of certainty from outside indications
just where the impending conflict is to
According to all accounts however, Waterloo will be
the center Of the Of operations about result
great battle The French forces in large numbers have been
reported proceeding in nOrtheasey direction from Char
lerot to Gemboux and straight line drawn from Gemboux
in northwestery direction to Brussels distance of only
twenty-five miles, would leave Waterloo just of the
line and much nearer Brussels
The Germans the other hand had proceeded last
accounts far west Dest and Aerscho the last named
only twenty-five miles northeast of Brussels which this north
er line of advance would leave to the SOUTH and only about
thirty miles from GebouX where the French report
ed concentrating this point being only few miles north
of Namur the Meuse river 1t be therefore that
the Germans have swept either side far Lege which
is farther east the Meuse whatever may be
the dozen forts which stayed the of the Germans
so long at that initial point of hostlities in Belgium
The general plan of German strategy to involve
the invasion of France with three large armies advanc
ing through Belgium another further south through re-
gon about Metz which is regarded by military experts the
probable of another great battle the 1870
H. although the actual struggle might take place Nancy
or Verdun, with third army marching the border
if not upon Swiss territory the idea being that
on the three wings should in attack upon the
French capital.
The movement of the northern German army seems to
have taken form directly opposite from this general plan
o campaign Belgum presents Itself to the Germans the
shape of half open fan and they have entered the kingdom
at the small end Lege every mile they advance forcing
them to present longer front.
The Germans have been marveosy successful thus far
in making the real point their first assault upon
French lines Whether the powerful blow will be
struck by the northern army whether this movement
mask for the concentration of the chief of peneta
ZION further SOUTH where the French would have
Of the English and Begians, might probable,
whether they have succeeded in forcing the
French armies at the center well along the Belgian from
tier and propose rush immense army the border
still further to the south thus turning the French flank
forcing the French forces at the north toward
Paris the risk of being off by the convergng Ger
armies is the pretty military problem concerning which
the allies must less degree sue
cessful scouting has disclosed to them the
On the other hand the British and French forces have
also been able to their that the world
is in ignorance of the real battle-ground the would choose
far the German straegss would let them Manifesy
the allies by withdrawing the advance lines of the French
and Beans could make stand with Waterloo as their chief
center if they disposed and is fair that
the military and geographical considerations which the
Of LINT