The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-22
QUESTIONS WORTH
OF The GERMANS
KEEPING BELGIUM
Wisdom of Annexing Con
quered Land is Doubted
by Leading Teutons.
EFFECT OF HOLLAND
ONE OF DRAWBACKS
No German However Con.
siders Possibility of Arby
Being Forced Out.

London, Jan. 22-The question of
the retention or the surrender of Bel
GUM when peace is arranged is one
upon which German opinion is divid-
ed more sharply than upon any other
involved in the war aims" problem.
1t is the pivot upon which revolves
the, embittered controversy between
the annexationists and their oppon-
ents. For Germany, as distinguished
from her Austrian ally, it overshadows
the same question in relation to Po-
land, Courland and the other occu-
pied Russian territories.
But properly to understand the Ger
man attitude, one needs to realize that
no German contemplates the POSSIBLE
ity of the German armies being driver
out of Belgium by force of arms. Only
as an act of Grace, or at least as an
act of policy, is the ultimate with
drawal from that land discussed, even
by the most vigorous advocates of re-
tirement.
Among these is the Liberal Frank
furter Zeitung, which devotes q sober
and closely reasoned article of three
columns to an examination of the sup
posed value of Belgium to the Ger
mans as a base of future military OPP
erations, mainly, of course, against
England.
rs it," says the Journal, "mili-
tarily safety that our army and oul
fleet should permanently retain foot
hold in Belgium? Can it be that
during the 40 years of Germany's gi-
Eantic growth in wealth, in worll
power, in industry and commerce, thi.
vital condition has been overlooked?
"All this went on without Belgium
The present world war would equally
haveg one in our favor even had We
not at the beginning, conquered Bel
Previous to Aug. 1, 1914, no ra
tiSnal German believed the possession
of this country was a fundamental
postulation of our future. Even oul
strategists were divided as to whethe
in a two-front war, our best chance
lay in the West or in the East. i
everything now changed?
Admitted that the march throug!
Belgium was deemed to offer the onl,
chance by swiftly overwhelmin!
French resistance, the chief motive
nevertheless, remained the crushing o
the enemy armies, not the conquest o
a foreign state.
yet the present demand for it's re
tention gives color to the charge o
the Belgian campaign having all alon
been designed with the object of ultl
pate annexation.
with the development of the wa
the possession of the landers coas
grew even clearer in value for tn
Germans, and in any future war it is
factor which must inevitably enter in
tC the the calculations. But thi
value has it's limits. What are thos
limits?'
The article proceeds to argue tina
never again can the Germans eXpeC
to find the French-B Belgian frontier q
exposed as was the case in 1914; fro1
the sea to the corner of Luxembur
will stretch q girdle similar to tn
Nerdun-B elfort line, (Which has prov
ed itself impenetrable." CA note-wol
thy admission,)
This would neutralize the chief &C
vantage conferred in this war by tn
holding of Belgium; any attempte
out-flanking of the French pOsitio
would be precluded; break through
would remain the only tactical re
sources-cven as is now the case. s
much for the offensive campaign
The contingency of the defensive ha
also to be taken into account.
"As a radical military solution
the problem, the annexation of Be
Gium would provide Germany with
deeper defensive zone, to the unque
TONED benefit of the Rhenish indu
trial district. On the other hand a
tack by the Western Powers upon
German Belgium would involve I
violation of neutrality such as Il
Germans lad to commit in 1914.
Therefore it would suffice for Il
terms of peace to provide that tho
powers at least should find no ne
trail Belgium army or fortresses
aid them. Granted this condition,
cannot be contended that the annex
ton or the lasting military occup
ton of Belgium would add to the s
curity of the German western fro
tier.
The effect of annexation upt
Holland must not be left out of T.
reckoning. Dutch neutrality, says t
writer, was at least until England il
posed her stricter economic conti
upon that state more valuable TO &c
many than would have been her a
tive participation upon the Germ
SIDE (AnOther admission to be noted
Exposure to attack through HI