Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-01-01
WILLIAM P. SIMS
WRITES WAR REVIEW
European War During the
Year Of 1915.
By WILLIAM PHTLIP SIMMs

events punctuated the year just draw
ing to a close as seen from the French
point of view: The Battle of Cham
payne, the Balkan muddle, the change
Of governments, the creation of an in
ter-ally war council and the nomina-
ton of General Joffre as commander
in-chief of all the French armies. what
ever the theatre of operations.
On the whole France regards the
past year as one without brilliance
so far as she on the allies are concern
ed. Her victories have been rather
negative. While her enemy has been
making some great runs around the
ends she and those fighting with her,
have succeeded in keeping the ball
pretty we'll in the middle of the field.
The first half of the game seems about
over, the Teutons have the ball but
is about the way the common sense
Frenchman sizes up the situation al
the close of 1915.
The battle of Champagne was inn
portant because it was the very first
battle to be fought under present
Imperfect conditions; it gave the
French soldier proper measure Of
the enemy and proper measure of
himself. Though no important stra-
tegic point was gained by the victory.
undoubtedly it will have its effect on
1916 operations because it settled sew
eral important points
The internally war council leads
Frenchmen to believe that the mis-
takes of the past are not likely to be
repeated; from now on they have de-
termined that the war plans of the
allies will dove-tail and that the com
ing year will register some real re-
Isults.
The Balkan middle has given
France more anxiety, perhaps, than
any other war phase during 1915.
Frenchmen openly admit failure there
both automatically and military.
Greece three times offered to join
the allies. once even before the Bat
tie of the Marine in 1914 but each
time she was refused admission. Then,
when the allies had fallen down at
the Dardanelles and in Bulgaria, and
asked her to come in, she had chang
ed her mind. 1t is admitted in GER
tain circles, that had France and the
allies acted in concert and at the
proper time, there is not the slight
est doubt that Greece would have led
the dance, that Bulgaria and Rou-
mania would today be fighting on the
allies side and that the multi-colored
flags of Germany's opponents would
today be floating over the minarets
of Constantinople.
The resignation of Theophils Del
casse, considered one of the greatest
of Frenchmen, from the office of Min
lister of Foreign Affairs, was due uni
quely to the Balkan developments.
Some say he opposed the sending of
troops to Salonika; others declare he
long ago advocated Big Stick methods
in the Near East and that because his
diplomacy there was not strongly
enough backed up, King Ferdinand
joined hands with the Kaiser instead
of with the allies. Take your choice.
Whatever his reasons for resigning,
complete reorganization of the gov
Iernment, Premier Rene Viviani resign
ing to make way for M. Aristide
BRAND. The presence of M. BRAND
as prime minister is significant. He
is known as man of action, of initia-
tive and strong measures.
The nomination of General Jofffe as
supreme Generalissimo of all the
French troops means two things; first
that Joffre will have absolute author.
| ity in disposing his armies and plan
ming campaigns; second, the French
hope that the English will take the
hint and agree to full and complete
coordination of all available forces.
Competent authorities agree that Ger.
man successes have been the result
of central control of effectiveness,
permitting rapid decisions quickly put
into effect, whereas the allies have
not acted properly in concert and
when at last, after long delays they
did get together, the measures agreed
upon were slowly put into operation.
The internally war council, composed
of men who have the power to act,
as, it is said, Joffre will have from
now on, ought to show results during
the coming year
Summed up, Frances last year has
been largely one of preparation She
hopes the coming year will be one of
execution. People here call the new
!