The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-09-25


ing that Count Won Bernstorff or any
other apologist Of the Germen breach
of good faith may say, can make
the American people think that Ger
many believed France was intending
to do that which she herself has
done. The facts are all absolutely
and eonclus!vely against such sup
position. So little preparation had
France made to resist a German in
vasion through Belgium, that, had
it not been for the totally unexpected
interposition of England on behalf of
Belgium, and the magnificent fight
against overwhelming odds put up
by the small Belgian army, Germany
today would be inside the very gates
of Paris.
The French line of defense stretch
ed from Belfort to the southern
limits of the Belgian frontier. North
of that she believed that her defense
consisted of 'sheet of paper" with
the solemn attest thereon of herself
and her great German neighbor The
loss to France and Belgium of the
fair lands that are now being over
run with fire and sword by Germany,
is, after all, trivial compared with the
enormous loss of moral prestige suf-
fered by the ruthless invader loss
which no carefully worded sophisti-
cation of the diplomat or the histor-
ian of the future can ever redeem.
The position of the allies today
is strategically and tactichlly very
strong. Based on a line of fortifica-
tions reaching from Belfort on the
south almost to Paris itself; with
strong reserves in the rear and
ample railroad communications serv-
ing the allied army upon interior
lines; with the spirit of the troops
absolutely unbroken; and with the
choice of several French seaports
through which Great Britain can
pour in her reserves, France and her
allies find themselves facing foes
that are feeling the enormous strain
of weeks of attack on entrenched po-
sitions.
The probability is that the much
talked-of complete investment of
Paris will never take place; and if
not. how and where is Germany to
deliver the crushing blow which is
to put France upder her heel, and
release that half million of men
which Germany must send to meet
the victorious Russian advance, and
to stiffen her sorely-worsted Austrian
ally?
1t is surprising that none of the
military critics have drawn attention
to the fact, altogether unprecedent-
ed in great wars, that there has been
no breaking through and enveloping
of any section on either side, Ger
man or French, of this great battle
line, two hundred and forty miles
long, in which, surely, there must be
some two-and-one-half millions of
men engaged. To our thinking, this
fact is explained by the absence from
the flied of operation of that secrecy
of movement which formerly render
ed it possible to concentrate over
whelming strength against one or
more portions of the enemy's lines,
and break through and envelop and
capture a whole army at time. We
all remember what happened at
Metz and Sedan. Such catastrophes
are not happening, and are not like
ly to happen, today.
Unquestionably the change has
been brought about by the wonder
fully efficient aeroplane scouting, of
which so much is being done in the
present war. The turning movement
of the German right wing is not a
case in point; for the success of that
movement was due to the initial ad-
vantage gained by the violation of
a treaty. 1t begins to look as
though the grand strategy of the al
lies is to accent the initial adyant-
age thus stolen by Germany and en-
courage the foe to break through at
enormous sacrifice of men to Paris,
the allies meanwhile swinging into
position with their left wing pivoted
upon the enormous defenses of that
city and their right upon the equally
strong defenses of Belfort. -Scien-
tific American.