The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-08-13


UNI WA anime what tho armies have done, re-
~ construct their various campaigns, to-
GNkhlE0142 gether with the conditions which
caused them TO be undertaken trace the tactical and
Rtraterc meanings of the major operations and OBJ
tain the sum Of the work accomplished by the
belligerents.
The two years Of war developed naturally certain
mrikvv phases which may be put down for the pur-
poses Df this review as seven in numbcr:-,Ihe Ger
man aItack on France; the first Russian offensives
the Aunro- German offensive; the Anglo French Of
fensves; the Balkan campaign; Verdnn; the general
allied offensive Into the class Of secondary opera
tons would fall the campaigns in MGSopotnmia and
Asia Minor the Gallipol campaign, the Itann cam
paign and the conquests of the German colonies
After the declaration Of war on Russia. August
!, 1914, the world did not have long to wait before
the Teutonic plan Of campaign was made plain.
This plan was the one recognized for years as the
only feasible one from military point of vew-a
violent descent on France through the Belgian plain,
in which every availnble would be utilized in
an effort to destroy immObllize the French army
before Russia would be In position to take the Of
fensve IN force This wholly dlsregarded the moral
question involved in violation Of Belgiums neutral
ty and based a realization of the compact
ness and strength Of the artificial barrier erected
by France on her eastern frontier and on the fnct
that in every German strategcAl plan against
France time was the most vital element
On August . Germany occupied the neutral terri
tory Of Luxembourg and an army in command Of
the Crown Prince moved down toward the detached
French frontier fortress OF Tongwy. The day fol-
lowing the first troops detrahed at Alx-aC mpclle
and moved toward the Belgian frontier. This force
consisted Of two or not moro than three brIgades,
lightly equipped and with only skeleton batteries of
field artillery. In skirmish order 1t crossed the
frontier, exchanging a few shots with Belgian
guards The first real fighting came on the 4th,
when Belgians disputed the crossing Of the Mouse
at Wise and the Tenth German corps, supported
by the Seventh came up in front of Liege
wholly fictitious impression OF the strength of
the Liege resistance reached the world which has
not been entirely removed Six hours after the heavy
German artillery came up before the fortress the post
uon was brenched the city Of Liege was occupied
and the German tide was flowing into Belgium on
front from the Ardennes to the Dutch frontier The
remaining forts had been masked to be reduced later
Recognizing the utility of endangcring field
army in the Liege camp, the Belgian staff on the
first signs Of a break withdrew the army west and
north until it met the main body Of reserves on the
River Gethe forming a line 10000 strong to dis
advance Of the Germans. The Germans came up to
the Gethe on August II and opened with artillery
which almost Immediately broke the Belgian front
Before evening the entire defence was in a retreat
closely approaching decentralization and which ended
only under the guns of Antwerp
The Adpance Into France.
With the road to Brussels thus opened the Belgian
capital entered unoppoScd on August 20 Just
before this time the army OF invasion was divided
into two columns as it left the gateway of Liegc,
One, the extreme right, composed of four corps and
an extra division and under the command OF Gen
eral Won Iluck took the Brussels route and for two
days flowed through the city and then swung south
toward Mons and Chartered. The other, under Gen
eral Won BuelOw moved along the Meuse toward
NRmur. Still third army, under General Won
Hansen, skirung the Ardenncs eventually struck
the Mouse in the vicinity Of Dlnant All these col,
umos remained in touch, however, and really formed
wide front sweeping down over Waterloo to the
French frontier and the line Namur- Chareroi-Mons
For ten days the Belglans had been opposing, as
best they could, the advance of the Germans The
first French forces to come TO their support ap-
peared along the middle Meuse in the vicinity OF
Dinant on August "A as the vanguard Of the Fifth
French army, which was being moved up to the
frontier. Meanwhile the British eypedIdonaTy force
of 10000 men was being landed In French ports
and hurried north The larger part Of this con
tingent wns concentrated at Courtrai by August It,
~, On August 10, while the Germans were IN the
nelghborhood of Brussels. the French 100000 strong.
moved into the Meusesambrea angle with their centre
on the fortress of Namur and the wings bent along
the rivers the left reaching out to Charlero twenty
miles up the sambre, and the right extending TO
Givet, on the Meuse A part Of the British were
started up at the same time but we're slower in
arriving
Early in the morning the Goth Won Buelows
army came in touch with Namur, and fire was opened
on the trenches which connected the eastern forts
Before noon on the 21st these trenches were
EVACUATED and the Germans entered Nauur Once
they were within the fortress ring the entire post
ton became untenable, 9nd such Of the Garrison as
escaped capture retired to the rivers to strengthen
the bridgeheads. These positions the Germans cap
Gured the following day, and the way was open for
In attack On the main French line
Crossing the 8leuse and tho sambre IN great force
1t middHv on the 22d, Won Buelow struck tho apex