Imperial Valley press., 1914-10-13

to be made the target of the monster
howitzers which reduced Antwerp.
The results of the series of battles
extending from the Swiss border to
within twenty-five miles of the Straits
of Dover, indicated by these frag-
mentary reports of activity in France
and Belgium, are laden with import
ance.
The fall of Antwerp was essential
to the consummation of this far great
er and more stupendous plan of cam
raign being initiated by the German
general staff, if for no other reason
than that it signaled the crushing OF
Belgium, making three-quarters of the
kingdom solidly held by the Kaiser; ii
eliminated Antwerp as a thorn in the
side IF Germany, and lastly, and most
important, it released 100000 men and
the besieging army's big guns, max
ing them available for active opera
tions against the more formidable op-
ronent in France which the Kaiser
could not move.
This force, under Generals Won Bess-
Ter it is expected will shortly swing
in southwesterly direction, seeking
6 junction with the army under Gen
oral Won Boehm, who is supporting
Won kluck just over the border in
northeastern France.
The attempt of this Antwerp at
tacking army to effect this junction
in its westward movement toward the
coast, military experts here believe,
for a general attack along the whole
German battle front. The concerted
attacks at other points of the line are
designed to keep the allies so busy
locally that they will be unable to
hurl to the northward sufficient re-
Inducements to relieve the threatened
left wing of the allies, against which
the Germans even now are directing
q turning movement in the REGION of
Lille.
The French general staff has an
ticipated this strategy and during the
past week is reported to have concen-
trated sufficient troops at Ostend, in
cluding the newly arrived British
forces, the Canadian regiments who
are reported to have arrived there,
and the Belgians who have come from
Antwerp, to be ready to meet the new
German front.
In the meantime there are indica-
tions that General Won Boehm, with
Mons as his base, is swinging his
forces like a great arm forward in
the direction of the oncoming Ant
werp victors.
Everything indicates that the Ger
mans center and the point from which
the main attack upon Ostend will be
attempted will rest along the Scheldt
river as it reaches south from Ant
werp, swinging in a great arc TOWARD:
Lille. This will bring the theatre of
the coming conflict near the course
of the Lys river, between Client and
Courtrai. 1t will be the purpose of
the Germans, according to experts.
to drive the British, French and Bel
glans concentrated at Ostend into the
North Sea or force them to evacuate.
In this event the natural retreat Of
the army of occupation in Ostcnd
would be YESTERDAY along the coast
toward Dunkirk and then southwark
to fail back upon the allied left op-
Grating to the south and west of Lille.
Evidently the cavalry activity re-
ported today in the official communi-
que from Bordeaux in the region west
of Lille and about La Bassee, Estrairs
and Hazebrouck is part of the Ger
man plan to occupy line stretching
to the sea between Ostend and Dun
kirk and connecting with the main
German line, which would prove an
effective barrier in cutting off such
retreat from Ostend.
Thus if the German plan is pos
sible of success, Belgium would be iso-
lated and the only way the allies could
save King Albert and his army, to-
gether with the French and British
forces holding the coast city, would
be to cut through the German line
g feat thus far not accomplished in
the war in France because of the
enormous. strength of the invaders
line.
This strength, military experts now
agree, will be more in evidence from
Low On because with the taking of
Antwerp the whole German line is
shortened automatically and in this
shorter lire are now still more men
and guns.
The possession of OstenJ would
l.