New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-12
THE NEW OFFENSIVE
An Attempt Not to Gain Ground but
n DESTROY the German Armies.


TO the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: The significance OF the change from
tho defensive 10 the offensive form o. war
faro by the Allies in the west lies IN the
f,c, that nm attempt is being made to de
stroy the German army. The tactical OPP
erations that have been and are being MADE
have that end in view and not the gaming
of this or that particular piece Of territory
Military considerations alone have been dic-
tatinr the strategy OF tho Allies. and since
Russia has got ready they have determined
that now is the time TO strike.
have learned from men who have vlsited
Sir John French recently in France that TOT
six months he has been awaiting an oppor-
tunitv TO drive the Germans from thcli
trenches. or. rather. TO compel them to leave
their trenches so as 10 catch them IN inc
cren field with repeating rifles, machine
Guns. ouick -frers and heavy howtzers and
obliterate them ne fighting force. Their
trenches could have been forced long ago
hut a premature attempt at doing so would
have given the Germans better chances o.
escaping If Germany could keep her
armies intact. the mere forcing Of the evacu-
alton Of Belgium would not be so great
military feat ms the British and french
commanders
The point 10 be noticed about the situa-
ton in France and Belgium is that the
Germans have been holding their trenches
with a minimum of men. These trenches
are stretched along zone OF 800 miles.
They have been guarded by under 100000
men. or little more than 5000 men to the
mile. ANY weakening Of that force would
make the lines too thin TO hold, and the
British and French soldiers watching these
lines would promptly seize the opportunity
To burst through them at the weaker points.
Since the Germans are dcployed in battle
line for the most part with few supporters,
with the existing roads available they could
not hope to move the greater portion OF
their forces TO new lines without rlshlng
grave disaster The difficulty of getting
men safely away from long line OF trenches
will be illustrated by the fact that DIVISION
Of infantry on the march occupies ABOUT
twenty-five miles Of road. II will be also
illustrated by the fact that it requires two
nays TO entrain a German army corps or
double track railway. Entrainment for
troops is hardly safe operation less than
tNo days march from the battle line If
retrograde is in progress.
SO the forcing OF the Germans out Of Bel
GUM would probably involve the destruction
Of the greater part OF their army, since
they have allowed matters 70 come TO their
present pass If the Allies do not promptly
proceed with their offensive it only means
that the power of Germany has not yet been
found 10 have reached its lowest ebb. The
evidence as conveyed by the cables seems
to indicate that already the fear Of posi-
bic shortage of cotton, as a result of the
British blockade, is hampering the move
mentx OF the German General staff. Other
sources OF annoyance such as the shortage
of copper are also upsetting the calculations
of the Teutons.
The recent retreat of the Russians is
hardly analogous to the coming retreat OF
the Germans from Belgium. for, except in
few instances, the Russian infantry main
tanned a local ascendancy over the Austro-
German infantry. IL was only the German
superiority in heavy guns that counted and
these could not be moved forward with suf-
ficient rapidity TO enable the attackers to
reap the fruits of their endeavors. In the
west the Allies have astonished the enemy
by producing in brief interval great
slperority in machine guns, quick-hrers
and heavy howitzers Some Of the new bat
teries of Kitcheners army have already
gained remarkable efficiency in only three
months training. The British and French
commanders in chief also have Just sur
prised the Germans by launching in the air
thousands Of aeropanes the presence OF
which was not suspected before. They have
still more cards to lay on the table, it is
reasonable to expect, and perhaps before
these words appear in print they will have
carried out one of the most remarkable eX
hibitions of sea power in connection with
land power that the world has ever seen.
The successful landing OF troops at the Oar
danelles has demonstrated the feasibility
of landing troops even on the coast OF Ger
many WILLIAM H. STEWART.
Toronto. Oct. ., 1915