New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-24
To tho Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF Inc lrlDuHe'
Sir: Permit me to assure you that your
excellent editorials on the war are the best
and sanest that have seen published IN any
British or American newspaper, and have
read a great many penned by various hands
do not by writing this aim at the dispar-
agement of any of the British newspapers,
for it is we'll known that the influence of the
censor. whose sole function is to deceive the
enemy (this is as true in Germany, Austria
Hungary, France or Russia as it is IN Great
Britain and is legitimate measure in war;
prevents British military critics from being
in a position to discuss future and sometimes
even present strategy
Fritz Rosenthal in your issue Of August 10
sets himself up as a critic, and IN order 10
maintain his thesis he makes some unwar-
ranted statements. Germany and Austria, he
says, are fighting the greatest and most won
derful battle in the annals of history. This
is vague statement, but it is true with one
exception, the exception being the Entente
powers, which have not yet put their full re-
sources in the field Success, he says, has
crowned German Austro- Hungarian arms.
Now in war there are two kinds of success,
political and military Political success by
any side would mean the weakening OF the
moral of its opponents, so that they would
be inclined TO sue for peace But IN the
political sphere the greatest success has been
won not by the Germanic powers, but by the
Entente powers in bringing Italy into the
field as the foe of Germany.
Military success also can be claimed in
fair measure by the enemies of Germany.
The whole German plan of the war went to
pieces on the Marine. II is true that the Ger
mans swept through Belgium and hold line
of trenches across Northern France, but this
is one of the things that are helping to bring
about their ultimate undoing. 1t has length
ened their lines of communication, which
lengthenirg has proved a severe tax on their
resources, and it has mmobilized nearly
1000 900 men. General Joffre has his armies
and artillery showed up so close to the
German lines Of Communication as to com
pei the Germans to attack the French posi-
tions whenever he wants them TO attack, and
he kills five Germans for one Frenchman. The
Belgian situation for Germany has been akin
to that Spanish ulcer" that Slapped the
strength of Napoleon and caused his down
FALL The holding of the Germans to q line
Of trenches has enabled Great Britain TO
develop her resources, slowly, because she
was not prepared for war, but none the less
surely, so as to put her in a position to de-
liver a telling blow. Joffre has been ready
for several months to take the offensive in
France, but this has been deliberately post
poned for the same reason that business
man would postpone buying shares on fall
ing market. He would wait till the eXpendi-
ture of effort and capital, in this case human
material, would be at its minimum to secure
given result.
In the east, if you will unearth the report
of the Kuropatkn Commission on the de-
fences of Russia made in 1901, you will see
that Russia is impregnable The abandon
ment of the Polish salient was long foreseen.
A invasion OF Germany from Warsaw is not
feasible. First, the Germans control the
Baltic in virtue of keeping their navy in the
Kiel Canal, and If the Russians made an ad-
vance they would have to clear their right
flank in East Prussia; but this could never be
done, for the Germans can always land troops
and execute turning movement The short
age of Russian muntionment on the Polish
front can be explained alone by the fact that
the Germans have seventeen railway lines
to the frontier and the Austrans have eight,
20 Russia's five. The Russian railways west
of Warsaw have also the German gauge. In
fact. Russia has done wonderfully well since
the beginning of the war. Her General staff
has performed a brilliant achievement in ex-
Treating the Russian armies from such a
dangerous trap. The political Importance Of
the capture of Warsaw would rest chiefly in
whether il would induce the Grand Alliance
to sue for peace. but instead 1t is German!