New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31

whole combat for many weeks to come.
Certainly she has not been able to force
the Austrians to recall their masses from
the Warsaw drive.
Summary.
Of the four major efforts described
above, the first, the German attack on
France, failed to dispose Of France. It's
initial successes were due to the violation
of the Belgian frontier, and when the
French army had been reconcentrated il
outfought the German, heavily defeated
it, but in its turn failed to force the Ger.
mans out of a large district of Northern
France which had been occupied in the
dash from Belgium.
The French achievement was wholly
unexpected to the Germans and remains
an enduring monument both TO French SOL
diers and to the French command. In this
campaign the British part was slight until
the Battles of Flanders, but here the Brit.
ISL won a remarkable triumph against
great odds and saved the Channel ports.
German failure was not due to bad gen.
eralship or incidental mistakes; II was
due to the amazing French rally and to
the fact that what had been attempted
was beyond the capacity even Of Germans.
But the nearness to victory seems 70 have
justified the risk taken.
The Russian offensive failed because Of
the ability of the Germans TO reinforce
their ally. Whenever the Russians had
only the Austrians to deal with they were
invariably successful, and in September
were on the point of crushing all Austrian
military strength. But against the Ger
mans they proved inferior troops, sue
cessful only in defensive lines. The ins
disaster and retreat from Gaicia were Que
in large part to the failure Of their sup
plies of ammunition and their lack o.
heavy artillery. But it is neces AIRY 70
point out that it was the Germans who
finally defeated the great Russian effort
OF the Allied offensive in the West littl'
need be said. The simple fact seems TO %
that the trench fighting has shown me
extreme difficulty of making a successful
advance; the Germans have simply Dug
themselves into Northern France, and are
able to supply the men and ammunition
to meet any offensive. The greatness "
the French losses and the concomV'ah'
failure Of the British to get up men OF
feed their guns explain Allied failure
this field, and there is no present pronS
of a change. German defence here ns'
been as brilliantly successful as the opera
tons against Russia.
Of the fourth major campaign, tnS'
against Russia, it is only possible 70 ;"
that it is still going forward, and that u
its earlier stages it has been as succeSsl"
as was the advance on Paris before 'n'
Battle of the Marne. 1t is chiefly no"'
worthy now as demonstrating the eno',
nous resources of Germany IN men an
munitions, the folly Of earlier predicuOA,
Of approaching German exhaustion a''
the comparative soundness Of German CUE
fidence that victory for them is sui pO'
sible or even likely. :.
In its first year the Great war 10
been Napoleonc in character, but no ~"
poleon has appeared. Germany mas -.
played the same ability to meet EurOpe
arms that France displayed from l's-
1914. All prospect Of early peace seem,
to have been disposed of by the aOs.Iv
of any really decisive result IN any w.
Only a tremendous Russian disaster
now modify the general expectation 10
the war will continue for one or TWO !ea -.
Finally, it is accurate to say that !"
military operations in Europe all tns ~.
advantage has lain with the Gern's-.
They have failed in their greatest D"'
taking. but they have cleared tneIr VI
frontiers, and are now fighting IN f0, n.
Belgium and France. Their armies :,
shown no sign of exhaustion or 'Oss "a
morale. They have won victories WIZ"