The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-22
German Offensive DELAYED.

"er"hu OuenstNc Delayed.
on the twenty-frst day Of the war.
then, the German offensive is not vet in
france. 1t has engaged IN sixteen days
OF severe hghting with the Belgians and
suffered considerable losses without hav-
ing fought decisively with the bulk of the
allied force. 1t is still 200 miles away
from fars. and counter offensive on
the part OF the French has penetrated be-
tween Metz and Strassburg and captured
one considerable German city.
In this situation the progress OF Rus
sian mobilization becomes OF supreme in
terest' Germany. straining every nerve
10 crush the French before Russian
masses come up. has for two weeks been
compelled TO tight an unexpected and ex-
pensive campaign In Belgium.
In MS very interesting book upon ia
france Nlctorieuse dams la Guerre de
Demain' Col. Arthur Boucher OF the
French army made the definite sta ve-
ment three years ago that between the
twenty-hrst and twenty-fourth DAYS after
mobilization had been ordered Russian
pressure on the German frontier would
begin TO he felt heavily Now Yesterday.
the twehty-third day after Russian mobil-
lzatlon was ordered. Russian troops are
reported at Gumbinnen, twenty miles in
side the Prussan frontier Plainly the
pressure has begun. although II is still too
soon to believe the Russian advance 10
wholly on foot
The Russian offensive will be divided
INTO Two parts. one directed against
Austria the other and more considerable
against Germany. The former is corr.
posed of nj least twelve army corps IN sod
on brest-Litowski, Lublin and Rowno the
latter, or hfteen with the centre at War
saw. To meet the twelve Russian corns
the Austrians have sixteen less those
charged with opposing the Servian army.
fh.a
Austrian territory and protecting the
coasts and the Italian frontier At Iea.t
nVe corps are required for this work and
sixth Is In Germany on the French
frontier. Russia can then reckon upon n
numerical advantage OF at least two army
corps against Austria, enough to remove
all possibility of further Austrian re-
endorsements being dispatched to the west.
Russia's Advantage.
There remains the army Charged with
penetrating Prussia toward Berlin. For
this fifteen army corps are available To
face them the Germans have left not
more than five. possibly only four corps I'm
the first line or field army To meet this
tremendous disparity she must RELY upon
her second line which could not be mobil
lied until the first was in the field, and IL
naturally inferior in equipment and In
immediate military value. Patiently, the
advantage OF Russia in this field is enor-
nous. II her regular army can be brought
up. A portion OF II at least has been
brought up, s in Prussia and warrants
the statement that the Russian offensive
has also begun
Again. II Is necessary to review the
whole field to get the true value Of the
German campaign in Belgium. Three
weeks after the German declaration OF
war upon Russia Russian troops are
in Prussia, French troops are In Al
sace-Lorrane the British expeditionary
army Is on the Continent the Belgian
army Is in the field and has made n
wonderful showing finally. the great
German offensive movement has not vet
reached French territory, Its cavalry has
been very severely handled in prclim-
mary campaign and the road to Paris Is
blocked by French army fully modified
and. at least with its allies, equal in
numbers to the German.
Briefly, then. Germany at brussels has
terminated VIGOROUSLY, perhaps glori-
ously, a campaign wholly outside of the
calculations Of her General Stan and in a
direction parallel to. not toward Paris
She has lost fifteen days In Belgium.
Those fifteen days have brought Russia
into the field. Henceforth IL will be
necessary to watch the Russian offensive
toward Berlin quite as closely as the Ger
man toward Paris.