The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1915-08-12

VioWc, tuo SIoop DaukSs the u0pLn,
width, and the swift current combine
to make the Vistula t. |. strongest de-
| fensive barrier In c Tern Europe.
Ldnstngen Holds Down the Right.
On the rest of the front, from So
kol, along the upper Bug, the Zlota
Lipa and the Dniester to Bessarabia,
there has been but little change. Won
| Linsingen, who is in command of this
section of the Teuton line, is playing
role similar to that of Won Buelow
in the north. His function is not to
| attack, but to hold, SO that the Ger
man right flank and lines of COM
munication may be safe. This he has
succeeded In doing while his fellow
leaders north and west have driven
their attacks home.
| Warsaw's Significance.
AS to the significance of the fall of
Warsaw in its relation to a possible
peace. no one can say. 1t depends
largely how our sympathies lie as to
what conclusions we draw. At the
same time an event of two years or
more ago may be appropriately re-
called in this connection.
About that time friendly protest
was lodged with Russia by France
over the fact that, in constructing
her main line of defense against an
attack from the west, Russia forti-
fed the Kovno-Grodno-B Bialo stok-
Brest-Litovsk line, apparently being
willing to concede the impractical
bility of the defense of Poland.
France contended that. with the
Russian line of resistance so far re-
moved, an overwhelming force could
crush her before Russia could offer
any diversion. The correctness of
this reasoning has been amply dem
onstrated. Russia therefore advanc-
ed her line of defense to the War
saw line of the Vistula, the Narew
and the Niemen.
1t is evident that, whether correct
ly or incorrectly, Russia does not
regard Poland as being an essential
part of her defensive plan. If cor
rect in this belief, Warsaw, provided
the Russian army escapes, simply
means so much more territory for
German occupation. If incorrect,
only time can show the result
| French Active in Fecht Valley.
On the western front the French
are consistently maintaining the Of
fensive in the Vosges mountains that
they initiated several weeks ago. The
principal line of attack is along the
Fecht valley from Metzeral to- Col
mar. Although the Germans claim
to have regained some of the posi-
tions taken from them last week, 1t
seems that the more important of
them are still in French hands, those
under French control commanding
the most important avenues through
the valley.
At the same time this French
movement Is not of sufficient volume
or Importance to indicate that there
Is any idea of turning the German
| left and following it up the Rhine.
On the contrary the impression Great
ed is that these operations are mere
iy continuation of Joffre's efforts to
| wear the Germans down.
Germans at User and Verduu.
Along the User canal front the
Germans launched q spasmodic at
tack In the vicinity of Hooge, using
| hre projectors in advance of the at
tacking force to clear the trenches.
The attack, however, was short-lived,
and this section of the front settled
back to its usual more or less quiet
| state.
In the Verdun section, both in the
Argonne and along the Meuse
| heights, the army of the Crown
Prince has blazed out against the
French Verdun position. AS this sec
tion Of the battle front will probably
| receive considerable attention in dis
patches brief description of the es-
| sential elements of which it consists.
together with a resume of what has
been accomplished there recently,
may prove Of interest.
The Positions Around Verdun.
The principal feature of the Ar
gonne is clay ridge about forty
miles long. This ridge is thickly
covered with underground, and across
1t transversely run the French lines.
The part of the forest traversed by
the battle lines is included between
the roads between Varonnes and
Clermont on the east, and Vienne-le-
Chateau and Binorville on the west
1t Is along this front that the Ger
man attack was launched several
weeks ago. and it was again attacked
by the Crown Prince this week The
total front covered by the last attack
was about six miles, extending from
the small village OF Bagatelle to a
point on the ridge locally called La
File Morte, about four miles south
east OF Varennes.
The total net gain made by the
| Germans was greatest along the road
| from -Four de Paris to Varennes. In
depth 1t measured not more than 500
yards. It's Importance, therefore, is
not great. The latest attack has
been along the same section of the
line, being supplemented by the at
tacks along the Meuse heights and
on the Les Eparges front.
1t Is becoming more apparent every
day that the strong probabilities are
that neither the Allies nor the Ger
mans can max any important head
way against the other on the French
front. The intrenchments that have
been constructed since the present
lines have been taken put any deci-
sive action beyond the bounds of rea-
son. 1t must be a question Of agree
Ing to quit or one side wearing the
other out.
| 1t is very generally expected that,
after the campaign against Warsaw
has been concluded and the Russians
driven beyond the Vistula and the