New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-13
KING TURNS TIDE TO
BELGIAN VICTORY
Supplies Naval Force
Necessary for Waiver
ing Infantry.

Antwerp, Sept ia fuil account
Of the Belgian advance since NedncS'
day cannot yet be given since II might
disclose real objective movements no.
vet completed. but some general indl-
cotton Of wtat has been done may oe
communicated without indiscreuon ana
Il should be made known for a true
appreciation Of the Germans in Europe
AT the present moment. For four days
TIE Belgian army has been in the field
carrying on q vigorous offensive
against the Germans, and concluding
at the end OF the week with n very
substantial credit TO its account.
The public memory of Europe sun
warns 10 the thought of the great de-
fensive campaign with which the Bel
gian army stayed the first onrush Of
the German horde. Thus tbs new Of
fensive campaign may in the ultimate
Judgment of results be of equal value,
for il has been quite apart from the
territory regained from German OcCu-
patton and the material losses in
flictcd on the Germans, for it's in
forms German headquarters that a
vigorous, veneeful army cOnfronts its
line of communications and threatens
itE line OF retreat.
Combats these last four days have
not been without attentions Of sue
cess. Sometimes the German force
based on Brussels and Louvain has
momentarily pushed back Il section OF
the advancing line thirty kilometres
in extent, but on the general balance
Yesterday the Bclgians have gained
enormously in prestige and in terri
tory. They have swept two provinces
clear of Germans and have forced the
enemy to a defensive policy within an
earea which each day mas D"cn mar
rowed.
Trusted to ARTILLERY.
The correspondent bivOuaced on :he
battlefield on Friday night and saw the
resumption OF the Belgian advance
along the left wing the left wing that
had acted as a pivot for the line which
designed TO advance until it reacted
with q front parallel to the canal from
Malines to LOuyain. By Saturday
morning that object had been accom-
plished and the whole line advanced,
the Germans keeping strictly on the
defensive and trusting for safety main
~ to their artillery work, which was
good.
AS the Belgian attack developed in
seriousness it was plain that the Gei-
man commander was getting strong re-
Inducements, and at one point he
seemed able to develop counter attack
by attempting TO envelope the leGt
wing. The attempt was not persevered
in and the general character of the
days lighting along the whole line was
persistent Belgian attacks answered by
stubborn German resistance, which
sometimes hel dts ground and some
times had to yield.
Leaving the field at sunset on Satur-
day, having traverscd the front from
the extreme left to the extreme right,
the conclusion seemed obvious that
the Germans had now brought up their
strength to the utmost point, ard af-
ter a juGiciOus view OF the general
more than doubtful whether they
would be able to hold their own in the
new attacks which BelgianS, with re-
plen' shed troops and encouraged
spirits, we're making.
King at the Front.
The general impression given By
this first great attack of the Belgian
army is that its strategic disposition
is excellent. Certainly u took the
Germans by surprise the first two
DAYS and the coordination of the va
rious divisions was happily timed. Us
the shortage Of infantry officers has
been felt.
The personal influence of The King.
who has been constantly at the FROM,
has been very marked. One incident
of yesterday might well have been
unfortunate, as the hard-presscd in
fantrv brigade bega nto give ground.
II so happened that the King was at
that point and supplied just the extra
moral force necessary TO push the tide
OF victory forward.
The weather here has changed TO
cold wet and stormy, but i does no,
seem to affect the courage of the
Belgian troops and it makes zeppclia
n-nndiAinns unlikely.