The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-25
ENGLAND IN THE WAR.
Her Military and Naval Achievements
Set Forth.

To THE EDITOR OF TIE SUS-Sir: The
gratuitous attack on f.ngland's share
in the war by wv. j. s." Is SO ludicrous
that 1t almost rsweis Itself. To utilize
comparisons familiar to the SIS T., NJ
board of strategy. which would an
army choose to hold. a thirty mile front
on ground like the Newark Meadows
with every approach swept by shells
or 200 miles like the top ridge of Orange
Mountain?
The British army IL practically be-
sies!ng Lille. one of the largest and
most important cities in France and
protected by very strong outworks
and some thousands of machine guns,
against which the British have or had
four 10 each battalion OF 1000 men.
They are holding Arln.ntlercs and sus-
tanning a terribly exposed front into
Belgium around the city OF lpres.
against which the greatest concentration
Of Germans since Nancy was saved by
De Castelnau has directed smashing
assaults in vain for months.
ON normal days when no special aC-
ton IL fought 500 wounded is not eX-
cessive on the exposed British front.
The losses are often 1000 a day. FIX
press trains run direct between Lille
and Berlin. and along that sector the
German army is kept in perfect condi-
tltlls SABloNt e. - N'ulh III
Kitchener's army boldly at the Ger.
man lines. and throw it frufTlessly.
Armies are not created overnight. a.
we know from the Spanish war. The
last division Of the original British
army was practically wiped out Of cN-
!stence fighting ito way across Belgium
after Antwerp fell French marines
and territorials, Rawlirson's Seventh
Division and Byng's Cavalry Division.
outnumDered six - one, saved north
France last October and lost So per
cent OF their strength. Many British
regiments were absolutely wiped ont.
But the thin line held and saved Calais.
north France II Frances most I'M
portant strategic railway while the
troops were moving from the .Aisre
The British navy is doing wonders
even II there Is no open foe TO attack.
Apart from trawlers. submarines had
sunk less than one hundred ships up
to June | and $3.50 sailincs or dcpar-
lures from the British Isles were re-
corded during the same period The
British losses Of officers during june
alone were Zoo, and over 10000 M ~
and The original British army Na, less
than 200, 0Oo. Yet wv. J. $" talks OF
"muddliug alon= as usual"
France is our sister ropuhliC, the
only other great republic, and how have
we helped her N gallant French
appreciate the help England gave them
in their dark hour, and as IL takes
seven months to train an efficient gun
nor and months 10 turn out howit2c'
batteries heavy enough to compete with
German artillery genius and prepare.
ton we had better turn again in BLOCH
and his predictions of the impo>sihil.
ity Of successful offcuSivcs against III.
trCNrhtd positions before No irtnN
stones ~ England, whose lark OF
preparation has cost her thousands u'
hcr best in trying to help save Bel.
Gian and French territory. The RritsF
Empire has nothing TO gain hut All +,
lose IN this war. a war at rock bot.
tom for a great ideal, 70, the cost u
blood and treasure j. 50 ]stuleuduI,
that it is ignorance to talk of CONNER
cial jealousy az a prime cause ol
either side. !. V. FlRRn.
NEw YopK. July -