The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-03-30
Member Of the Associated Press
TUESDAY. MARCH 30, 1915.
THE WAR SITUATION.

The significance of Lord Kitchener S
words, when he said the war would be
gin in May, are becoming more APP
parent from day to day. Terrible as
the struggle has been in the past few
months, it is certain to be more ap-
palIing in magnitude and severity in
the near future The events of the last
few weeks Enthusiastically foreshadow
this. Unless the allies can bring up
overwhelming forces, or some fortunate
circumstances favors them, 1t is difficult
to foresee for them a speedy triumph.
The cost of the recent encounter at
Neuve Chapelle, in which the British
troops were victorious, plainly indi-
Gates the price in men and material
which will have to be paid for every
direct step in advance. The result of
the fighting in Champagne are even
more significant. The natural condi-
tions there, farther south and farther
| inland, have been much more favorable
to field operations. There, at the base
of the triangle formed by the sharp
northerly bend of the Aisne river, be
tween the ArgoRne. forest and Berry
Bac, q quarter of q million French
troops have been battling day after
day, during many weeks, for a gain of
Of ground which, so far as actual dis
tance is concerned can only be meas
ured in yards. 49,.
Many more men have been fighting
there than took part in the battle of
Waterloo, which was decided in q sin
gle day. True, the French claim to have
secured a number of important stra-
tegic positions which will be Of mate
rial advantage hereafter, but it is
abundantly evident that the Germans
are as determined as they are we'll pre-
pared to contest every foot of advance
ment in that direction. And that is
the most promising point of attack for
the allies in the whole 30O-mile line OF
western entertainments. There they
are nearest to the southern German
lines Of communication which, could
they but cut them, would leave the
German forces to the west isolated and
largely defenceless.
The Germans, it is obvious, have no.
been idle in the enforced time-markinl
of the so-ealled winter campaign. They
have not only been organizing and mar
shalling vast forces, but they have beer
strengthening with scientific industr,
= every vulnerable point in their lines
From Southern Alsace to the Belgian
coast they have with ceaseless energ,
been entrenching and fortifying, ever.
assailable position. Their holdings i
France and Belgium have been con
verified into one mighty fortress, to dis
lodge them from which will require tn
most slilful strategy and the mos
potent force.
There is still doubt that sue
h strategy and such force will be fortI
coming. The situation at the very ou
W set was saved by consummate Frenc
y and British generalship. 1t was tina
W generalship which led up to and wo
the all-important victory of the Marn
n the turning point Of the war, wha
ever may come hereafter. Had it ne
W been for that victory the German
would have attained Paris only Il lit
e behind their appointed time. Franc
would have been crushed before Bri
ain could have organized her effecti1
- support; and Russia s forces wou
- have been shattered while in process
n mobilization. 1t was France and Bri
3 ish geueralship which saved everythir
at the Marine. 1t was British herois
n and British daring in leadership whic
S vl saved the day at Ypres, the most CT
OIL cial of all the battles fought since ii
ur beginning of the war.
The Germans had no outstandir
military figure among them at the b
ginning of the war None has sin
> come to light or been developed.
number of plodding and more or lie
capable generals they undoubted
have, but no outstanding military lea