The sun., 1917-01-22
GERMANY SEEKS TO
TURN FRENCH FLANK
Concentration on Swiss Border
Believed to Presage In
vasiOn Of Republic.
Special Cobie Despafch TO THE Sun from the
London Tfnes

Special cobie Despafch TO TIE suy from ,Ae
London Times
LONDON. Jan. 21.-Col. Feyler, the
Swiss military expert. believes it quite
possible that, foolhardy as It may seem,
Germany may be preparing to violate
Switzerlands neutrality in order to
strike through Switzerland at France.
He SAYS so in the following article pub
lished by the Times.
1T would seem scarcely poss,bIe ,ha,
the Central Empires could seek IN in
crease the array OF nations opposed TO
them, especially when the wanton in
vasion of Switzerland would convince
every neutral State that its territory
might be violated similarly IL II suited
Germany's military purpose. and every
neutral might Join Switzerland and so
join the Entente Allies.
Yet their military policy has become
neck or nothing. The Central Powers
nave plunged east and west. but all in
dicatlons suggest that the German Gen
eral staff has come back to the con-
clusion that a decisive victory NAV he
won only on the western front and the
further realization that since all at
tempts to break through the western
front by frontal attack have failed the
Arglo-French line must be turned by a
thanking attack. The only available flank
Is resting on the Jura Alps, and to turn
1t would. OF course, entail breach OF
Swiss neutrality.
They are concentrating troops upon
the Swiss frontier. They may propose a
sbig offensive In Alsace. This would not
be thanking operation. but a frontal at
tack. perhaps as costly as the Vcrdun
attempt. In any case. this concentrat ton
is aimed Rp1fnrf uhipl, 10
even stronger than Nerdun. An attempt
to attack Belfort frontally appears
doomed to failure. The Belfort position
can be turned only by hacking a way
through Switzerland.
such an outrage to Swiss neutrality
would increase the forces OF the Entente
by 100000 first line troops, without
reckoning on 100000 reserves. 1t would,
moreover, considerably lengthen the
Germanic fronts and lines of communlca-
tion at the moment when II Is TO Ger
many's utmost interest TO shorten them
Last. although the Germans might sus-
ceed in breaking through the passes OF
the Jura Alps they would lay bare the
Austrian flank to an Italian invasion
across the Alps.
''rhe Germans may hack their way
through the Jura passes. but unless they
are obsessed by the Swiss flank idea they
must know that by invading Switzerland
they would he opening several new
passes through the Alps for their ad-
versaries.
THE invasion Of Switzerland must
appear the counsel of madness. but
what other policy can appeal to the
Germans? They must break the iron
ring soon. Events have proved that de-
cisive victory in the East may be won
only after terrific exertions extending
for an indefinite period. The Russians
and Rumanians may be pushed out of
Moldavia-though that result now seems
doubtful-but only with the result that
they would retreat to Bessarabia. further
lengthening the German front and pro-
longing their lines of communication.
Gen. Sarrall's army might be pushed
back to the sea with the help of Con-
stantine's Greeks, but only at tremen-
dous cost and without reaching a de-
cisior of the war,
"A more gigantic offensive against
Italy even than Austria launched in the
Treutino last year might carry the Cen
trai Empires 10 Rome but would win
no decision in the war.
"The only possibility OF an early vic
tory with German peace is to be
sought on the western front. For that
reason the Central Empires may seek 10
turn the flank OF the Anglo French line
through Switzerland, even at the cost of
placing my country and possibly all the
other European neutrals in the ranks
of their enemies"