Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-10-15
Won BOEHMS FAILS 4
TO BLOCK RETREAT
OF ALLIED FORCES
Failyre to Cut Of Retreating
ALLIES RObs German Victory
Of Importance
MAY FORCE BRITISH
TO ABANDON 0STEND
Allies However Command
Railroads, Endangering
German Position
(By ], W. T. Mason, former London
correspondent for the United Press.l


New York, Oct. l5.-General Won
Boehms, commanding one Of the kaiser S
armies in northern France, failed in his
efforts to block the southwark retreat
Of the allied forces from Ostend, It was
evident today.
The French occupation Of Ypres
proves that the road is open for these
sorely fatigued Belgians with the Brit
ish reinforcements, to escape.
Ypres is 25 miles south Of Ostend and
commands junction Of three or four
main highways from 0stend south to the
allies military lines, Its retention by
the French is a threat against the
southern flank Of General Won Beseer 5
German army. II the Gallic forces can
strike firm Ypres tward the River Lys,
which Won Beseler is using as protec.
tion for his left, the Germans will be
forced to retreat to avoid having their
wing turned.
A series Of other similar strokes and
counter strokes are threatened through
out the battle area In western Belgium
and northern France. "
Forces About Equal.
From this give and rake Il appears
that the rival forces are about equal in
strength. Both are divided. Won Bose.
ler's victorious Antwerp army has not
Joined Won Boehm, TO the southwest
ward and, so far as known, the Anglo
Belgian troops who fled the city on the
Scheldt have not yet united with the
rescuing French corps
If the British and Belgians are not
too much exhausted, they might, by
joining the French at Ypres, deliver an
attack In overwhelmingly superior
numbers against either OF the two Ger
man commands. There is every iniica
tion, however, that the Anglo. Belgian
army urgently needs time for recuper
alton II undoubtedly retains q reserve
Of defensive strength but the spirit fol
n determined offensive probably musi
wait for recovery from the fatigue OF
nearly fortnight's incessant fighting
Gain No Advantage,
Germans march to the sea will give
them no military advantage IL the re
treating allies escape The most thei
can accomplish by II nom strategic
standpoint will be TO force the British
TO abandon Ostcnd and perhaps somt
Of the northern French ports as suppl,
bases and choose others farther 10 TN
southward.
German occupation Of no North Sci
or channel port can threaten the Englisl
coast 30 long Ms the British retail
command Of the sen, rendering II i'm
possible for German transports TO 0s
semblc for an invasion, and seabOar
Zeppelin stations will be subject Z
destruction by bombardment from Nh
allies warships
A permanent occupation Of Bclqia
and Fronch coast towns, too, woul
seriously lengthen and weaken m
German battle line unless IL coincide
with y retirement from the kaiser
present positions near the Alsne
There may, however, be diplomat
reasons for such change In strategy
When the time comes FOR peace negotit
tions, the Germans will be In n positio
10 demand much better terms if the
hold Belgian and French ports tha
would be the case " they were in occt
patton only Of interior towns, since |
the former instance Great Britain q
well as France would be vitally ooi
ccrned while in the latter II would b
only France.