The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-19

From THE EVENING Sun Of yesterday.
At tho battle OF the Marine ten days ago
the great German offensive was brought
to a halt, Its right flank turned. its change
from the offensive to the defensive deter
mined. The effort TO envclop the allied
armies and cut them off from Paris had
failed at Cambrini on August rs. AT the
Marine the effort to pierce the centre, iso-
late Paris and the eastern barrier forts
failed also. There was TO be no Sedan,
no Waterloo for the allies in the opening
week OF the war
After the battle OF the Marine the Ger
man problem was TO bring their right,
Won Kluck and Won Buelow. out Of dan
ger. get It solIdly rooted beyond the flank
ing operations Of the allies. then prevent
the allies from striking at 1t AS Won Klucl.
had struck at the British from Mons to
Compeigne. Exactly as the British re-
treat had compelled the whole Anglo
French battle line from the Channel to
the vosges to withdraw 50 Pau and French
on the German right were In fact compel
ling the whole German force in France to
retire.
This withdrawal began about Septem-
Der :. by september IL Won Kluck was
DaCk AT the Alsne near SolhNOnSs filS
right bank was protected by the Disc be-
yond which on the hills near Noyon he
stationed the troops drawn out OF north
western France and REINFORCED from Bel
GUM. Along his front and that of Won
Buelow TO the east the River Aisne con-
stltuted an admirable obstacle against
Anglo French advance. Eastward. south
OF the Aisne but nsrth of Reims, stood
the armies OF Won Hansen and the Grand
Duke Albrecht Beyond the .Argonne the
Crown Prince was struggling back from
the attempted investment OF Verdun. now
abandoned because Of the general retreat.
Meaning of Germans stand.
The stand of the Germans could be in
terpreted as meaning several things. II
might have been u new attempt TO save
trains and heavy artillery moving over
miry roads and now halting the retreat
OF the main army. II might mean an ef-
fort to help the Crown Prince, patiently In
difficulty. by preventing the concentration
OF allied troops from the ler and Genre on
his front. II might mean desperate
venture to hold the position they occupied
IN France until fresh troops sent south
permitted "A new drive forward a second
attempt to i.olate Paris and destroy the
allied army.
The problem Of Gen. Joffre was less
complex For him il was essential hrs'
TO prevent the Germans from taking root
In France and preparing "A new advance
Could they do this much of the profit oil
the battle OF the Marine would be lost. III
addition IL was plain that any success or
the left against the defeated troops OF Vor
Kluck might imperil his communication
with Belgium. drive him east upon th'
road already conEested by the centre
Pressure on the Crown Prince at tht
right might break his line of communica
tions with Metz and throw him west upor
the centre. Could this be done the Ger
man masses would have to depend on two
difficult lines. one through Belgium, th'
other through France and Belgium t
Stenay for their supplies and for theii
retreat.
Reinforced. their wings intact. the Ger
mans can hereafter withdraw II the mum
bers and resources OF the enemies Prov
too great. Such a withdrawal would meat
n surrender OF the offensive In the west
ern field for long weeks at best pecaus'
they would have to retire TO the Meuse
not impossbly TO German territory, be
fore making another stand This woul'