Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-09-04
A Stalemate =?
From the Washington Times.


| Napoleon. in 1905. recognized that I'm
less he could land an army in England an
overrun the United Kingdom, his control O
Europe could never be established. Grea
Britain then, as now. was the backbone
the treasure chest and the inspiring pur
pose of continental opposition to the con
queror.
II is instructive to note the parallel be
tween 1905 and 1914. The Kaiser HOPED
to outplay Napoleon in diplomacy. by keep
ing Britain out of the war, but failed. Their
he hurled his greatest force directly toward
the British channel. He has occupied most
OF Belgium and Boulogne. in northern
France, has deserted his patrols, Heavy
artillery has been brought up for siege
of Antwerp, which must always be kept
in mind as the greatest port in Europe,
only little way across the channel from
England. II is easy to observe the strength
and also the weakness of this play of the
Germans.
If they could swing around the French
flank in the northwest, and by controlling
Antwerp. Ostend, Boulogne, and Calais,
they would menace Great Britain. They
would make it extremely difficult to land
British troops in Belgium or the most hard
pressed parts Of France. Moreover, they
would have chance to repeat the Ma
poleonic performance of 1904 and 1905,
when he actually prepared to invade Eng
land. He got together then great army
and vast feet at Boulogne, and tolled
the British off to distant seas. hoping to
rush his army on transports across the
channel while it was comparatively I'M
guarded.
A great disaster to the British fleet off
HelgOland is necessary before Wilhelm can
seriously undertake such COUP But much
will be accomplished If the Germans can
get control of the Belgian-F French channel
coast and accomplish the double purpose
Of holding off British re-enforcements for
France. while at the same time compelling
division Of the British fleet, drawing
away large part of it to safeguard the
salt water route to Dover.
Looking at the developments of the last
fortnight in the light of this larger strategy.
it becomes apparent that the sea fight off
Helgoland last week was a greater gain for
Britain than has commonly been realized.
After Napoleon had his army and fleet
ready at Boulogne in 1905, he bid for a
naval battle in the hope of clearing the
channel, and was defeated. His ships later
went out with the challenge that brought
on Trafalgar, the most glorious of British
sea victories since the Armada. From
that day to this British sea power has
never been eravely questioned.
Again. the parallel. The clash off Hell
eoland was brought on by an effort Of the
Germans. apparently, to surprise the Brit
ish blockadine feet in dense fog. 1t was
complete failure, just as was the effort Of
Napoleon to inflict telling naval disaster
on the British. The control of the sea is
more securely than ever in British hands,
After Trafalgar and the wreck of his
hope to crush Britain. what did Napoleon
do
He changed front and rushed his Dou-
logne army away to the Rhine forntier for
the campaign that ended at Austerlitz
That is seemingly what Wilhelm is doing
now. for seemingly authentic dispatches
tell of the withdrawal Of great German
force from Belgium and Northern France
to plunge far back into Prussia and heir
sustain the shock Of the Russian onslaught
in that section. Once more the parallel
for now. as then, it is a Russian menace
that is to be met.
Napoleon won his most glorious victory
at Austerltz. But he did not have to leave
the bulk of his army behind him. as the
Kaiser must do, while hurrying away fol
this coup. The parallel is lost at this point
The Germans have hammered away on the
wide-fung turning movement through Bel
GUM and northern France. by which they
have sought to achieve the double pur-
pose Of getting to Paris and at the same
time crowding out to the shores Of the
channel and keeping away the transport
fleets of Britain.
At the cost Of staggering losses, made
necessary by the pressure Of demand for
quick results, the Germans have pushed faI
toward Paris. But they have accomplished
no Sedan. The French and British armies
are yet in being stubbornly fighting and
retiring slowly with an effectiveness that
recalls the campaigns Of Fabius. or the
retreat Of Washington across Jersey. With
the Germans weakening their line of the
west in order to support ii in Prussia the
French are hurrying another army to the
front. and the British have set about to
raise half million Of men.
Thus the necessity for yet more terrific
attacks and yet more reckless sacrifices by
the Germans. along the route to Paris. Is
redOubled. Can they make these? Will
Prussian blood and iron stand the strain
II they do not. there has been reached
a stalemate in the French Belgian cam
paign. The Kaiser is fairly caught in the
wise. Both Russia and the western allies
are capable OF increasing their forces faster
than can be added to the German. Thus
far the great losses have been German
losses. From Germany comes already the
tale Of frightful misery spreading itself
throughout the empire. From Italy it Is
insisted that the 100000 splendid troops
Of that country are on the point Of grand
rush against the Austrian frontier. which
would instantly detach the Austrian army
from its effort to help Germany.
Analysis of the whole military situation
justifes the belief that nothing decisive
has been accomplished by the western
campaign of the Germans. II now that
campaign must have its impetus checked
in order to defend the east. the first great