NOTES ON THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2239, 27 August 1914, Page 4

NOTES ON THE WAR

The situation in Central and Southern Belgium is made a' little clearer by to-day's cablegrams, but bho exact strength of the contending forces is still obscure. The points of interest for the moment cover a line 145 miles in length, and for. the greater part of the distance slightly' on tne Belgium side of tho Franco-Belgian frontier. The extreme points of this line are Lille in the north, and Longwy to tho south-east. Tho map which we publish this morning does not show Lille (which is 40 miles N.W. from Mans), but Longwy will-'be found on it, and most of the other places mentioned. It will be seen that midway between Lillo and Longwy the rivers Sambro and Meuso form two sides of a trianglo, tho Sambro flowing, roughly speaking, from west to east, and tho Meuse from south to north. The object of the German attack in Belgium, appears to be to force a passago into and through this triangular piece of xountry to . tho< French The fighting, of which we received, somo scraps of news yesterday, was chiefly directed at forcing tho passage of the, S&mbre. Tho German right wing attacked from tho north-east by way of Mons, where tho British troops wero stationed. .The centre, after.passing Namur, moved down on Charloroi, !~25 miles south-cast of Mons wherethe most despefato_ fighting took "-place, eventually ending in the Gorman fright wing and centre falling back in the direction of Hal. The German loft wing attacked by way of the, Mouse, and here they seem to have forced tho French to fall baok. Such was the position aa left by yesterday's news.

To-day we are told of certain successes by the Allies in the vicinity ■of Charleroi,. which probably do not affect the situation as a whole. The Germans apparently were repulsed' at Jumet and Anderluest which a glance at the map will show are close' beside Charleroi. There is also mention of a French success at Colmar (presumably the small town of that name' to the east of Neufchateau near the western Luxemburg frontier). These minor engagements, however, are of little - importance as compared with the bigger movements •which now seem to have reached a critical stage. The chief centre of conflict appears to be the country in the vicinity of the River Sombre. The Germans apparently are here in great force, for if we are to believe the messages which are now to hand three French armies are moving in this direction from different points' to strengthen the forces already there. One is moving from Stenay, 20 miles south-east of Sedan, and is reported to have as its objective the country around Neufchateau, 28 , miles to the N.E. of Stenay, and about 40 miles from Phillipvillo, a central point in the';, triangle referred to This army would strengthen the Allies' right wing. A second army is moving north-cast from Sedan towards the supposed centre of the German line of advance down the valleys of the Sambro 'and MouseThe third army is also moving northeast from Chimay, apparently towards Charleroi. It is significant that all these large forces should be moving in this direction. It was at the-point to which the third, army is moving that the French cavalry and artillery drove back the Germans, but ' had to retreat in turn owing to lack of support. We are told that the main French force was not engaged in this encounter on Sunday last, it seemingly no't being sufficiently advanced. As a result the Allies were again outnumbered. Now that state of things is being remedied—late but better than never.

With the strengthening of the allied forces at the main theatre of action in tho western campaign we may now hear of somo of the abortive offensive' movements we have been told of being pushed home. It may bo asked why a portion of the main body of French troops which has been idle in the south was not moved up to the Belgian frontier. Thero are two explanations of this. It may bo that the French Intelligence Department was at fault in not keeping ■ the Commander-in-Chief sufficiently informed as to the movements of the German troops and the numbers pouring into Belgium. Or what is more likely tho threatening attitude- of Italy, coupled with tho successes of Servia and llussia, have forced the Austrians to withdraw the Army Corps which were assisting tho Germans in Al-sace-Lorraine, and thus enabled the French Commander to release a corresponding proportion of his southera forces £or sevvlw against the at-

tempted invasion by way of Belgium. In any case it is satisfactory to learn that tho Allies have been now strengthened it what seems to bo for the moment the critical centre of attack, It is rather surprising that we have not heard of any activo operations around Lille. A largo force of Germans waß reported to bo moving in that direction. Possibly this force has been diverted to tho south whel'o the biggest battle of tho campaign probably is now being fought

While the outlook around tho Franco-Belgian frontier may bo considered to have been slightly improved >by the arrival of the additional French troops and _by the evidence which the details of the fighting affords of the ability of the Allies to hold their own vagainst odds, the Gormans have shown increased activity in tho neighbourhood of Nancy. It is said to do considered doubtful whether the French "will deem it advisable to attempt to defend Nancy, but .at the same timo comes nows of a, German >reverse near the town. The question of the defence or abandonment of Nancy is quite unimportant. As was pointed out yesterday tho great line of fortresses which stand further back from, the frontier are Franco's safeguard against invasion and in timo of war the towns which lio between them ana the frontier aro bound _to suffer. What is required now is that tho French forces along the frontier between Switzerland and Luxemburg should rest 'content to hold the Germans in oheck and await the big issue further north. At latest advices tho position is reported to be satisfactory. .; - s '

In the meantime the Busßians are pressing forward, and each day Bees some fresh advance- either in Germany or Austria, or in both countries. The main advance of the Russians plainly is .developing in NorthEastern Germany—or East Prussia as it is called. The movement that is being made is most complete and sweeping, a systematic and thorough clearing away of all obstacles over an extensive range ,of-country. The successes' recorded to-day indicate that the German forces are disinclined to meet the great Russian armies, save at an advantage, and in consequence have been retreating on their fortified strongholds. Still, there has been some sanguinary fighting. The Russians speak hopefully of very soon holding 'complete control of East Prussia, presumably meaning the large area lying between the Vistula River and the Russian frontier. Once across the Vistula— and this will _be a heavy task— the Russians will be within striking ■ distance of the heart of the German Empire. No longer then, could the Kaiser continue to 'hurl his battalions against*'' France. He will bo fully occupied. nearer home.

In view of the great number of prisoners taken in tho present war, the treatment of prisoners of war is a subject of considerable interest. Thero was' a time when such prisonersNvero put to death, and this practice still continues among somo sav.'ago,tribes;, but with the progress of civilisation tho treatmont of prisoners has been greatly improved. This matter was dealt . with by The Hague Convention of 1007, ' which laid it down.that prisoners must bo humanely treated, and that they are entitled to retain their personal property with the exception of weapons, horses, and military documents. They can be kept in a.town, .camp, or other place, but nob in aotual confinement except in very special circumstances. Tho State may employ prisoners of war—with the exception of officers—at occupations which haveno connection with the actual conflict, or they may be allowed to; work for private individuals or in their own interests.' They are entitled to be paid for the work they do. The money thss earned shall be devoted to; the improvement of'their position, and what remains, after deductions for maintenance, shall be paid to them on their release. The" Hague Convention specifies how prisoners are to be clothed and fed. They may be set at liberty on' parole, and they are in honour bound to fulfil their engagements, but they cannot be compelled to a-ccept their liberty on parole. On the outbreak of war a bureau of information regarding prisoners is set up in each belligerent State. This bureau collects full information concerning each prisoner, and replies to all inquiries. ' ' ■ •