New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-28
The Progress of the Great War,
East and West.

through Belgium and have eStablshed "oIu y"
northeastern France. They arc now reported aS
occupying Lille. Roubaix and Yaencennes' and IN
that quarter are only little more than 100 miles
distant from Paris
That the route through Belgium was the most
desirable one for the invaders is shown by the
results Of the first three weeks Of campaigning
The Germans have gone clear across from Liege
70 Lille without a single serious check. They had
10 fight sharp battle at Charleroi but the allied
forces made only a temporary stand there the
failure OF General Joffre's offensive movements
further south compelling them to retire across the
French border From Iiege through Brussels TO
Lille the German advance has covered 100 miles
Along the rest Of the line from Luxembourg south
the German advance has been hardly more than
Ten miles on the average Northeastern France
was the vulnerable spot i'm the French line Of
defence. and the German army has struck at that
spot with remarkable energy and celebrity
We said week ago that the strategy Of the
first stage of the war had resolved itself into a
contest Of skill in the distribution Of forces. SO
far the Germans have won everywhere in that
contest. In getting more men 70 the critical spot
at the critical time they have outgeneralled the
allies. II seems pretty well established by the
failure Of the French offensive in southern Bel
-ium. Lorraine and Alsace that the German lines
TO the south were not stripped in order 10 throw
crushing force into central Belgium. There were
German masses an along the frontier except op-
uosite Belfort in southern Alsace. 1t is reason
able to infer. therefore, that the German armies
have 80 far outnumbered those Of the allies and
that the French were misled if they were sssum-
ing the offensive in Alsace and Lorraine the
theory that they were dealing with an enemy no
stronger than themselves.
Germany is following a daring plan Of attack IN
France. and has probably summoned more than
one Austrian army corps for service in the west.
The Austrian General staff is practically subordi
nate TO the General STAFF in Berlin, and it is good
policy for Austria Hungary TO look to decisive
victories french soil as a condition precedent
90 the defence Of her own borders against Russia.
The Servian invasion has been abandoned and
Austro-Hungaran troops have just been with
drawn from the Saniak Of Novi-Bazar. They may
he soon recalled I'm large part from Herzegovina
and Bosnia.
Either two or three Austro- Hungarian corps
have been sent to the Rhine or the German mob
iization has been more rapid and complete than
the French mobilization. Fighting inner
aud shorter line the allies have had TO yield ground
and on their extreme left they are still subject
10 some extent to a turning movement east of
Lille. The problem Of the allies now seems TO be
to prevent a disastrous break in their lines 10
retire slowly under pressure and with the aid of
reserves to restore numerical equality with the
- enemy.
In the eastern theatre the Russian advance
Through East Prussia has made almost as rapid
progress as did the German advance through Bel.
GUM. The Russians have completely overrun
this province as far west as Auenstein which is
an important railway centre due south Of K0nigs-
berg. Their cavalry has penetrated TO within
twenty-five miles Of Dantzic The main German
force has fallen back into K0niesberg where IL
is safe since the Baltic Sea is under German
control The troops not needed for garrison pur
poses can be conveyed by water to points wesI
of the Vistula River In about ten days time the
Russians have advanced sixty or seventy miles
and there is little prospect Of further resistance
being offered until the invaders reach the fortified
line Of the Vistla from Dantzic south TO Thorn.
There are reports Of Russian movement from
northwestern Poland against the city Of Posen,
the capital Of Prussias Polish province. But no
definite news about that operation has been re
ceived such an advance IL successful, would
cut in behind the Prussian fortified cities on the
west bank Of the vistua and isolate them just
KS K6ngsberg has been isolated
From Austrian sources comes the report Of a
serious defeat Of the Russians inside the Polish
border south southeast OF Warsaw. The Austrian
army operated from point IN Galicia half way
between Cracow and Lemberg, and is said TO have
driven Russian army Of four corps north a. far
ms Lublin. IN Poland On the extreme eastern
frontier OF Galicia another Russian army. coming