The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-09-03

hind a hill or a fortifeation the Ger
mans bring forward their field how
itzers, the projectiles Of which make
path like a rainbow in form, and
the shells are burst in the midst Of
the allies, scattering death and de.
struction in all directions. The allies
are said to have no field howitzers, on
which the Japanese SO thoroughly re-
lied in their war with Russia, and the
worder is that Germany and German
taught armies Of other countries are
the only ones in Europe TO add this
weapon to their armament.
In spite of the preparedness Of the
Germans, as well as their overwhelm-
ling numbers and their marvellous
mobility in the field, the allies have
accomplished wonders in holding back
the invaders. 1t is to be borne in
mind that an advancing host has great
advantage over line Of defense.
Every point in the line of defense
must be protected, for if great host
forces itself through at any one point,
as it can by massing movements,
then the fanks must fall back and
form a realignment or disaster is
sure to follow with great loss in pris
oners as well as inability to support.
On the other hand if an invading force
is pushed back at any one point, the
victorious forces pressing forward are
likely to find themselves drawn so far
that they are liable to flank attack, if
not capture. This explains why the
allies have been gradually forced back
in the face of superior numbers at
some one point.
If the English or French can push
reinforcements fast enough to block
the German advance, or If an English
force can move from the North Sea
region and threaten the German line
of communications through Belgium,
then the Germans in turn would have
to fall back or retire in a southeaster-
ly direction, which would take them
away from Paris.
So far as we have been able to dis
cover, however, the French have
massed all available forces at this
time along the frontier, with due re-
serves in supporting positions, so that
they have not sufficient force at
hand to rush to the offensive in the
way indicated, while the English ap-
are expecting initial defeats
With dependence on later battles in a
long war, as in South Africa, to prove
decisive.
The talk Of moving the French seat
of Government from Paris just as the
Belgians transferred their govern
ment from Brussels, means that the
French expect they may be unable to
prevent the siege of their capital It
means, moreover, that the fall of
Paris will not end the war so far as
France is concerned, but that they
will fight on as England and Russia
have promised to fight.
Indeed with the war advanced to its
present stage, we do not see how
either side can logically stop fighting,
and that is what makes us anticipate
a long struggle, unless the question Of
food early becomes decisive factor
rs has been predicted, and in this
direction England and France would
seem to have the advantage since they
command the seas, over which
,ood must be brought from other
ands.
If England yields, Germany alb
;orbs Belgium, Lnxemburg, and prob
IDLY the Netherlands, with the GER
ainty that she will also take COM
nand of the seas, reduce England to
econd rate naval power through
,reat naval centers on the Belgian
md Holland coast, which she needs,
is well as assure Austro- German ,
in the Mediterranean be-
ide stripping England Of many CO.
onial possessions.
On the other hand if Germany
.ields her disarmament will be forced,
be will be stripped Of much Of her
avy that remains; she will lose
russian Poland TO Russia or to new
'oland promised under Russian aus
ices, France will have Alsace and
,orraine, Belgium may gain Prussian
rovinces, and the Germans will lose
Il their colonies in the Pacific and in
frica TO say nothing of other results
{ the war. Neither country can
ford to yield, therefore, unless fore Y
to yield through bitter defeat p
arlington Free Press. v