The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-09
Prince Lazarovich EIrebelianovich Con
siders Likely Points of Invasion in
Franco. German Frontier, Point
ing Out Difficulties in the
Attack on Them.

or weakness. to the invading or to the
defending armies.
What moves will bring victory to
one or the other Of the combating
forces only the hour and fate can tell.
hut some moves could never be made
and some are imposed ny every con-
sidcration of military science.
Western Theatre Of War.
Tho western theatre of war covers
| tho western part of Germany, the Meth
erlands. Belgium and the eastern part
of France. limited on the south by
switzerland. which Is neutral and which
by reason of its mountainous formation
Will he able To- enforce that neutrality.
| This theatre of war extends to the
North Sea, which seems destined to wit
ness the great naval battles of the war.
From the basin NJ Paris the land
stretches In a soft undulating plain
through the north of France, along
the shores Of belgium into Holland.
The country along the French border.
! the eastern part OF Belgium and west
crn Germany is hilly and crossed ny
mountain chains. Three rivers and
their valleys Of first military impor-
lance cut this hilly Country-th Rhine
and its western tributaries, the Mosolle
and the Meusc on the French side and
the Main in Germany. In the valley of
those rivers lie the principal lines Of
communication Of that region.
This whole western theatre of war IL
rich aSriculturally and rich in indus
tries, and the needs of these industries,
coupled with intense commerce, have
developed an extended and intricate web
of road and railroad systems. The
Rhine and the Main being navigable
bear an immense amount ot water
traffic. This western military theatre
! has been the arena OF many wars in
/ history, the last of which was the
Franco-G German war of 1870.
So long as the German armies can
he victorious the Rhine vii, be i'm
portant a. "A way Of communication.
| But should the German campaign he
unsuccessful the Rhine will assume
a first class importance as military
obstacle. impeding the advance OF
| French armies into Germany. In view
of the possibility of defeat Germany
has erected along the Rhine the for
! tresses of Ncu Breisach. Strassburg
GcrmersheiNi, Maina and Coblentz, all
barring the passage OF the Rhine.
Northward Of Strassburg the Rhine
will have little influence on the con-
duct of "A campaign.
Two Parts Of Frontier.
The Franco-German border can he
considered in two distinct PARASITIC
southern or Alsatian border and the
border of Lorraine. The Alsatan Dor
der. beginning at the Troue de Belfort
or as 1t is called in German Bur
gunder Thor" is formed by the noun
, tain chain Of the Nuges, nifty miles
long, which is crossed by seven roads,
pdssable for all three branches, in
fantry, cavalry and artillery. but the
formation Of. those passes makes their
defence easy and possible.
In the south the Troue de Belfort.
depression connecting the valley OF
the Rhine with the valley of the Rhone
Is of military importance. ON the
I French side 1t is closed 10y the group OF
fortiiiCations of BclfOrt lanercs.
Besancon. Dion; on the German side
in Alsace, by the fortified camp of
Moleshein. The Troue de Befort was
the starting point OF Marecha
Turenne's march in 1915 via Muh!hou-
sen. Comar and SChletts,adt into Ger.
many, and could bc the starting point
OF a French offensive into Germany.
The border of Lorraine has no
natural barriers against "A French ad-
vance into Germany or German ad.
vance into France 1t is crossed neal
Metz By the valley of the Moselle
transect!nS the borders between Franc,
and Germany, Cleaving the Who'll,
plateau of Lorraine. making a wide
lane along the borders of Luxembourg
and rnally opening into the valley of
the Rhine at toblentz. In this sector
extending from Metz up to LuXomburg
there Is nothing except the German for
tresses of Metz and Didcnhoten, which
could prevent French invasion.
Metz is the point of junction OF
several trunk railroad lines heading
from the Rhine bridges at Coblentz
ManZ. Mannheim end Strassburg, al
OF iirst importance for tho strategic
concentration of large military masse.
in sector between Metz Bensdorf anC
Saarburg.
| To the west Of the valley OF tn,
Mosollc, and separated from IT by tn,
, massive mountain formation of tn,
, Eiffcl, Is the River Mouse. Coming
from France and entering Belgian ter
riiory near Sedan, 1t flows through
licge and the Dutch province of Lin
burg and thon. together with the Rhine
; forms the estuary of Shelde and tn,
Rhine in Holland. The valley of tn,
Mcuse stretches from France acros.
, belgium and Holland and not far from
Cologne cnlargcs into the low German
plains. Thus the three natural lines o.
, communication for any advancing arm,
from Germany into France lie either
, through the Trouc de Bolfort, the val
ley of the Mosellc near Mctz. or tn,
valley of the Mcuse across Bclaium an,
: Holland.
Groups OF FortihcntIons.
Under the influence of the German Of
fensive campaign of 1870, and perhap
, considering that the French moblllza
ton and strategic concentration woul,
, require more time than the German, tn
!, French constructed parallel with IN
, border AT distance OF two DAYS marcl
several groups Of permanent fortlfca