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The Outlook

SEPTEMBER 9, 1914

LYMAN ABBOTT, Editor-in-Chief

HAMILTON W. MABIE, Associate Editor

R. D. TOWNSEND, Managing Editor

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THE STORY OF THE WAR

BY ARTHUR BULLARD

THE OUTLOOK'S WAR CORRESPONDENT AT HOME

HE great event of the fourth week

of the war-August 27 to September 2-was the amazing flanking movement of the Germans through Belgium and into northwest France. From the viewpoint of military organization, this feat is so remarkable that any praise seems pallid. The line of this movement from Aix-la-Chapelle, lengthwise through Belgium and down to Amiens in France, was close to two hundred miles. To move and subsist a large army this distance so rapidly, even through a friendly country in peace maneuvers, would strain any commissariat. The Germans had to fight every foot of the way. And always with astounding precision everything needed -food, ammunition, and heavy artillery was on the fighting line in sufficient quantity for a continual attack.

Some critics have said that, while the German army was a marvelous machine, it was so intricate that if a single cog was broken the whole mechanism would shake to pieces. Several cogs were badly smashed by the unexpected resistance of Liège, but the machine was not disabled. The apparent ease with which the Germans recovered from this check, rearranged their plans, and pushed on irresistibly is proof of an adaptability for which few people gave them credit.

THE RETREAT OF THE ALLIES

The brunt of the week's fighting—at least so the censored despatches indicate-fell on the Allies' Army of the Left. On the 26th of August the Allies were on or near the Belgian frontier. Day after day "official announcements from Paris have told of “ rearrangements" of this front. As we go to press they are some seventy miles farther back in

France, about eighty miles from Paris, close to the line of fortifications from La Fère to Rheims. It is a strong position, but must bear the onrush of heavy forces accustomed to victory. This army must also guard its western flank, as the Germans seem determined to cut between it and the sea. We have no definite information, but unless the French organization has gone to pieces this Army of the Left should by now be heavily reinforced with fresh troops.

The Center has also been forced to retire, but not nearly so far, and its withdrawal may have been necessitated by the retreat of the Army of the Left, rather than by the vigor of the German attack. Last week the Berlin despatches told of great victories here, but no general advance such as these claims would imply has been reported. The Germans have reduced the old fort of Longwy, on the frontier line, after a long siege, but seem to have stopped there. The French War Office asserts that the enemy have not been able to cross the Meuse, except on the Belgian side of the frontier.

Fighting almost daily, and claiming to have inflicted very heavy losses on the Germans, the left wing of this Center Army has retreated to the vicinity of Rheims, to keep in line with the Army of the Left.

The French Army of the Right extends from near Nancy to the Swiss frontier. The raid into Alsace was abandoned, but this army, which was retreating last week, is once more reported to be advancing. It is probable that fewer men are engaged on this long line than in either of the other armies. The German frontier is heavily fortified, and we have no indication that the French forces were bringing up siege artillery. Until we get

such news it is quite certain that the operations in this territory are of minor importance.

THE CENSORSHIP

The "fog of war" hangs heavily over all of Europe. We on this side of the ocean are not the only ones who suffer. I received a letter to-day from an English friend who lives about two hours from London. It is dated the 17th of August. "In to-day's paper is the first scrap of news that we in England have had for weeks about our troops. We knew from individuals that they were embarking, and to-day we are allowed to know that they have landed in France." Knowing my friend's interest in such matters, I had asked in a previous letter about the effect of the anti-war demonstration in Trafalgar Square. "I did not see anything at all in the papers," my friend writes, "about the anti-war demonstration." Even in England everything which the Government thinks the people had best not know is suppressed.

So we must not be surprised if at any time new facts come out which will completely change the face of the situation. But by piecing together the fragmentary despatches and trying to reconcile the conflicting ones we can reach a tentative summary of the first month of this western campaign.

A MONTH OF WAR

The first move of the German army was to overrun Luxemburg. Almost simultaneously they crossed the Belgian frontier and attacked Liège. Contrary to all expectations, the plucky little Belgian army resisted stubbornly.

If it had not been for this check it is probable that the German Army of the Right, coming down from Aix-la-Chapelle, would have struck the French border at Givet within two days, and, joining the Crown Prince's army in Luxemburg, which operates from the bases of Trèves and Metz, would have smashed into France between Verdun and Rheims.

It is nearly certain that the French expected the main attack here, and concentrated their forces in this territory between the Meuse and the Moselle.

The Germans, realizing that they had lost the advantage of a quick move, that the French had had time to prepare. gave up their "dashing attack" and deployed through Belgium, incidentally occupying Brussels by

the way. Holding the army in Luxemburg stationary as a pivot, they made a broad flanking movement with the object of turning the Allies' left and attacking Paris to the west of La Fère.

It was so daring a movement, it exhibited such amazing reliance on the commissary department and such disregard for the military maxims about lines of communication. that the French, in spite of their aerial scouts, did not take it seriously till it was well launched.

We have no definite information as to the number of men involved in this march through Belgium. Although it has probably been exaggerated, it must still have been immense. And the soldiers must have done it mostly on foot, leaving the railways free to bring up the supplies.

The Belgian army, although it fought stubbornly, was easily brushed aside. The first impact of the attack seems to have fallen on the English at Mons. Here again we can only guess at numbers. On paper the British expeditionary force is 125,000. But a recent issue of the "Broad Arrow," an English military review, tells of the "trial mobilization" of an army corps at home last spring. One division appeared at the rendezvous complete in numbers and equipment; the other division was twenty per cent wanting in men, lacked a number of officers, and its army train was defective to the point of uselessness. It is doubtful if the English had 80,000 men at the front.

However, according to the London reports, they acted with great heroism in the face of heavy odds and retreated in good order. The fact that this rear-guard fight all the way from Mons to La Fère was continuous shows that there was no rout. The German losses in such an action would probably be very heavy. According to the latest reports, the English are now in the strongest position they have yet occupied, they have received reinforcements from home which more than replace their losses, and they are now heavily supported by the French.

In the center, between the Meuse and the Moselle, where the French were probably in greatest force, they attempted several advances, but were repulsed. There has undoubtedly been much heavy fighting, but little movement from either side.

Almost as soon as the Germans invaded Belgium the French rushed into Alsace, capturing Thann, Altkirche, and Mülhausen-all

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GERMANY'S MARINE FRONTIER-THE NORTH SEA AND THE BALTIC

Heligoland, Wilhelmshaven, and the Kiel Canal form Germany's naval base on the North Sea. Stettin, Danzig, and Königsberg are her fortified harbors on the Baltic. Sveaborg and Reval defend the Gulf of Finland, the Russian base

unfortified. This raid was backed up by a movement down the passes of the Vosges Mountains, which advanced to within a few miles of Strassburg. Here again we have no information as to the numbers engaged, and very few details about the operations. Both sides claimed unimportant victories. And at last the French had to retire, either before superior forces or, as their War Office explains, because they were needed in the north.

So at the end of the first month it appears that the French offensive has been everywhere repulsed. They have held their eastern frontier intact, but in the north the Allies have been driven back from the border to their second line of defense.

The Germans, with a renewed tradition of victory behind them, are facing a line of heavy fortifications which will be defended vigorously. If they can break through or turn them they will be one step nearer Paris.

THE STRATEGICAL HONORS

The French campaign in Alsace has been bitterly criticised by easy-chair generals. It was probably undertaken for political rather than military reasons. The fate of the Lost Provinces will be fought out in other fields. The poor inhabitants of Alsace, who welcomed the French, will probably have a hard time now that the Germans have come back. But as the evidence is not all in yet, it is well to restrain criticism. However, it certainly looks at this writing as if the French Staff had been badly outgeneraled. The Germans have turned up in force where they were not expected. The Allies had as many men, if not more, at their disposal, but they seem to have guessed wrong as to where they were needed.

THE MONTH TO COME

We will none of us probably be asked again to live through another month so exciting as September, 1914, promises to be. We are not sure in detail what has happened, so it is even harder than usual to prophesy. But things of the utmost importance to Europe and all this world will be decided in the next few weeks.

Theoretically, the Allies should be able to hold their present lines. Every day that they have retreated their numbers have been increased by reinforcements. Their "thin line" with every backward movement has tracted and solidified. They know where

The forts,

the attack is coming from now. which are part of their position, are very strong.

Theoretically, the Germans ought to find every mile of advance harder. Their line of communication is already perilously long. A certain percentage of their artillery and equipment must have been smashed. Horses and men must be fatigued. Probably Germany is still able to put fresh men in the front. There are hundreds of thousands of welltrained men who have not yet been under fire. But the losses have been great, and will be greater as the Germans attack fortifications. They have lost the advantage of surprise. Their early successes were undoubtedly assisted by the fact that their generals had out-moved those of the Allies. But now they are probably outnumbered on the battle line.

But the Germans have already done the theoretically impossible in their amazing march through Belgium.

And the morale of armies is a matter of mob psychology and has little to do with theory. And of this we know nothing. The stories of dejected German prisoners give little light. The fact that a correspondent of the London "Times," after talking with some wounded English soldiers, fell into a funk and wrote to his paper that all was lost is interesting but not convincing.

The

The future depends more on this matter of psychology than anything else. maneuvering is pretty well over-with the honors to the Germans. The generals have done their part, and now it is up to the rank and file. Which side has the more stamina?

Has the élan of the Germans been broken by appalling losses? They have already expended stupendous energy. Can they keep up the pace? No campaign is won till the opposing army is routed. And the Allies have not turned tail and run yet. Perhaps the German generals, in the hope that one more blow would crush the enemy, have driven their men to the breaking point. It would not be entirely surprising if the German advance would blow up suddenly like a soap-bubble. They simply must keep going. Have they the wind?

And what do the soldiers of the Allies think about this long-drawn-out retreat? It is always hard to keep one's nerve when things are going wrong. And the French have been trained for an offensive warfare. I can easily imagine them utterly downhearted,

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