Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-08-30
FRENCH HOPE IS
TO DELAY ENEMY
German Plan to Crush France by
Terrible Blow and Then Face
Russ Being Carried Out
ALLIES PURELY ON DEFENSIVE
Abandon offensive Movement They
Were Pursuine ON Frontiers
week AEo-seek Only Go
Block the Way.


LONDON, Aug. 29.--Friday has
been day of momentous news
News Of the gravest character came
from France, where in a single week
the aspects OF the operations have
changed entirely.
Last week the allied armies we're
pursuing an offensive campaign on
all the frontiers. Now, according 10
official news received from Berlin,
Emperor William is congratulating
his people on the success OF the Ger
man arms in the task OF putting the
Iron ring" around the allied armies
from Cambria. Department du Nord,
France, to the Vosges, while Lord
Kitchener. the British war minister,
came into Parliament with the an
nouncement that troops from India
are being called to help the British
arms in France, and that the British
army Is to be Immediately reinforced.
seant Consolation.
The only consolation offered the
British public was the testimony
from Field Marshal Sir John French
that in the heavy fighting against
tremendous odds. the British troops,
who suffered severely. bore them
selves with conspicuous bravery.
II is already realized that the ter
rible struggle is only at its begin
ming, and that the German plan OF
campaign, openly revealed to Sir
william Edward Goschen. then Brit
ish ambassador to Germany, by Gott-
lieb Won Jagow, the German foreign
secretary. as shown by the official
paper published yesterday. namely
to strike the swiftest and strongest
blow at France, regardless of Bel
gian neutrality or any other him
drance, and then, when France Is at
Germany's feet. for Germany to turn
its attention TO the Russian attack,
is being carried through ruthlessly.
Purely ON Defensive.
The offensive strategy OF the allies
Is abandoned The German army, in
vastly superior numbers, has imposed
on the allies a purely defensive
strategy, which is devoted to delay
ing as much as possible what now
seems to be an inevitable advance on
Paris.
Little can be gathered either from
British or French official accounts
OF the great battle OF the last week
In fact more is learned from what
is omitted than from what Is
stated. Tho only thing that is clear
is that the allies are fighting on the
defensive on ever-receding lines,
while II is becoming increasingly
clear that the desire to make brill
liant coup in Alsace-Lorraine was
weak spot in French strategy.
seek 90 cain Time.
On the side OF the allies. whose
efforts are devoted to gaining time
while the Russians oyerrun Prussia,
is the fact that their armies are still
in being and that Germany may run
some danger from their ever length
ening lines OF communication. That
this danger is not negligible is shown
by the news that Emperor william
has ordered the mobilization OF the
last reserves 10 protect communica-
lions and occupy Belgium so that
the troops now engaged in this work
may be released TO go to the front.
where they are badly needed to re-
place Germany's heavy losses in
killed and wounded.
The work OF provisioning and sup
plying the German. armies is greatly
facilitated BY the Germans being
able to draw on Belgium for sup
plies. The British public is facing
the disappointing news with patient
determination. The Spectator says
today in an editorial note:
Cause for Anxiety.
There is cause for anxiety and
there is cause for stern determine
ton; above all. there is cause for
anflagging energy in military prepar-
alton, but there il no cause for des-
pair or even dependency. Time Is
with US and against our enemies"
On the eastern battlefield the war
news continues favorable TO the al
lies. The Russians continue 10 I'D
vance in east Prussia and Poland.
neither the German nor the Austrian
forces apparently being able 70 with
stand them.