Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-14
DOUBT SUCCESS Of
GERMAN TACTICS
SEE MUCH TO CRITICIZE IN
CONDUCT OF WAR.
MAssEp ORDER FIGHTING COST.
LY AGAINST MODERN GUNS
Big Battle Expected in Vicinity Of
ur-Recapture Of Muelhausen
Considered Important From German
Straeetic Point-Final Objective Of
kaiser's army Believed to Be Paris.
Especial correspondence

NaSAlHe ton, Aug. 14.-Amerlcan nlli-
+ itary experts are following with breath
less interest the developments Of the
war in Europe. From the standpoint
of strategy and tactics, they feel they
are confronted with rare opportunity
! for study. A report that the French
have been driven ont of Muelhausen il
1 correct is of no small Importance in
connection with the operations along
the Franco German frontier. The early
. operations in this region indicated that
the French. operating from Belfort, had
to the German left flank and that the
Germans left was still further serious
ly menaced. Apparently, the Germans
fully appreciate the need of prevent
ing further inroads by the French in
that vicinity and have determined on
counter movements in force. 1t Is too
early 70 tell the full significance of
these. On the surface, it would look
as if the French offensive movements
/ in the valley Of the III had been
checked and further details of the
German movements in this part Of the
war theater will be worth close scrut-
my to determine whether this is the
case
Check at Liese Menacins.
Unquestionab.y the check of the
Germans at Liege and the ma'ssing of
heavy forces of allies about Namur.
troops disposed to take the offensive.
have nenaced the German strategical
right Hank. At the same time. the
operations OF the French in the valley
Of the H. in the -ilsatian region,
menaced the left flank If, now, the
Germans are recovering on their left
flank. as he reported recapture of
Muelhausen seems to indicate. it means
much from the German standpoint.
Namur important Objective.
The lack of heavy fighting in Namur
region. or somewhere in the Belgian
territory. commands attention. But ex-
actiy what it indicates IS masked from
view /. may point to one OF several
things. The Germans. according to
some reports, are entrenching close to
!! Liege. They may be awaiting an at
tack by the allies there while massins
heavily farther south somewhere in
the region of E,sch. Or they may be
until they feel they are in sufficient
force to undertake the unquestionably
tremendous operation involved in the
taking of Namur This seems the
more likely as in accord with the uni
form idea OF the German was office to
take The offensive whether for the pur-
pcs.e OF pursuing an offensive campaign
turnout or as the best method. OF eff
fecting defense of German territory
May Be Headed Toward Paris.
Vague intirna tons of the massing OF
enormous forces OF Germans in the
/ Luxembourg territory and forward
movements in the country about Esch
and Metz seem to point 10 the fac'
that the Germans are preparing TO
strike terrific blow at the French
{ center, aimed squareiy al Paris. This
would not be surprising, though there
can De no doubt such a blow would
mean enormous sacrifices Of men or
the part of the Germans. On the
other hand. if, thru sheer weight OF
numbers, the Germans should smash
thru OF badly weaken the French cen
+ Ter. it is hard to estimate what might
not result.
4 Il is especially interesting at this
.
of Moltke was bent toward striking
+ constantly in the direction of Paris
! Capture of Paris was his paramount
object. Moreover, the German opera
! t,ons then were So fashioned as TO force
the French to fight rather in north
err France than III the south. the OBJ
I iect being to keep the French armies
from being able to draw supplies from
the rich fields of the south. 1t may
he expected that in a general way
this idea VIII be followed by the Ger
man general staff in the present war
subject always to the vicssitudes oil
events.
Experts See German Failure.
Military experts the world over are
I beginning seriously to raise the ques-
ton whether the German formations
and tactics are not going 10 prove 1aii-
ure,s in this war. The German theory
of charging against modern guns ane
rifles in close formation. from the
American standpoint. seems suicldai
II is apparent that it proved so a
Iiege. In the American army. troop:
in line OF battle are invariably in opeI
order and it is the experience OF com
petent critics that losses are thereb!
much lessened. Army men in ever!
country will watch further develop
ments in this respect with the keenes
scrutiny.
Preserving Naval Fleet.
The reported closing OF the Nortf
Sea may or may not point TO an earl!
collision Of the main fleets OF tn'
British and Germans. Il will not 81
to assume that it points to SUCH {
clash until it actually happens. Moth
ing has yet happened to prove tina
the Germans intend to fight with thei
main battleship fleet except In DE
fensive way and under shelter OF tn
coast Notifications.
/ HioHWAYMEN STEAL $4,000.
XIII Two Guards and Make Away VIII