NOTES ON THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2244, 2 September 1914, Page 4

NOTES ON THE WAR

There is cheering news from Franco to-day, and at time of writing the outlook is pleasanter in this quarter than it lias been for some days. It is necessary to make the reservation that later messages may minimise the. importance of the earlier nows, for the situation is constantly changing. But after making duo allowance for this, it is gratifying to find that the French have been ablo to once more take the offensive in at least two quarters. The first of these is on the right flank ,oi what it must be - supposed is the main army. Exactly where the right flank is located we are not told. At last advices it was some miles to the west of Mezieres, which does not appear on the map we publish in this issue, but it adjoins Charleville, which will be found to the northwest of Sedan. It was in this direction that the German Army under the Crown Prince (who seemingly was not.killed- at Liege) was reported to be moving. Another message stated that the. Germans were attacking on a front extending'from Guise to La Fero, in which case the French right flank would be somewhere in the vicinity of La Fere which is clue west of Mezieres. Probably, then, the offensive movement of the Allies' right flank began near La Fere, and drove back the German forces in this neighbourhood. What happened, at the centre, where the British troops were stated to be located, and on the left flank, we have yet to learn. But tho news so far is. good.

Since the above was written, a message has come to hand giving brief particulars of fighting near Neufchateau, in Southern Belgium. It is stated that the advance of the Crown Prince was cheeked at this point by the French troops. Possibly this is what the earlier message refers to as the Allies' success on the right flank. Last week we were told that a French army corps had left Stenay, and proceeded in the direction of Ncufohatcau to strengthen the French forces in that region, and their advance seems to have been well timed. Yesterday's cablegrams gave the ' impression that the " Crown Prince had reached a point further, west than Neufchateau, in French territory, but apparently this k was not the ease. The French troops along the Meuse, presumably near the Belgian frontier, have been fighting with varying fortune in the vicinity of Mezieres and Charleville, but seem on tho whole to be quite holding their own.

From further south, in the Vosges, also comes news of increased activity on the part of the French, attended' with steady success. It was here in the Vosges that the French troops some days ago made considerable progress. They invaded Lorraine, driving the Germans back, and capturing the principal passes of the Vosges Range. The falling back of 'the line further north, however, was reported to have compelled their retirement from these advantageous positions. Now they arc once more, taking the offensive, and are advancing steadily and forcing the enemy to fall back. Exactly how far they havo gone it is impossible at tho moment to tell, as no mention is made of any _ of the positions captured. Still it is very satisfactory to learn of this advance, for it not only indicates successes at this particular point, but suggests also that the line further north is well hold by tho Allied forces.

According to "A Neutral Diplomat," tho Kaiser had planned a sensational victory for tho anniversary of Sedan (September 1), including the annihilation of tho British forces. Tho German War Lord no doubt calculated that a sweeping triumph for German arms on the anniversary of that fatal day for France in 1870 would have an immense moral influence in inspiring his own forces, and a correspondingly depressing effect on the French. Wc arc told to-day that the Kaiser has been disappointed over his little plan. Instead of a smashing German victory, the French have taken the offensive. A glance at the, map will show that the German Crown Prince was checked only a short distance from Sedan. Possibly it was a part of the Kaiser's scheme that his son and heir should bo the central figure in tho dramatic triumph, which has yet to eventuate. It should bo noted that the withdrawal of the Germans from Belgium is also commented on by tho "Neutral Diplomat" beforementioned. The German Ambassador attributes this hastening of .troops from west to east to German successes having crushed the French and British forces and relieved Germany of tho necessity of keeping so strong a force in France. This may sound convincing to German ears, but wjjen read in conjunction with tho news of the Russian advance and the offensive attitude taken up by the Allies in the west, it will convince no one else. The refusal of the German authorities to publish further lists- of casualties presumably will be explained to-morrow by Count Bernstorff as being accounted for by the fact that the German losses are so few in number that it. is hardly worth while troubling about i announcing them publicly.

Two outstanding possibilities are at present occupying a good deal of public attention in connection with the war—the possibility of the Germans reaching Paris, and the. possibility of' the Russians reaching Berlin. People are asking: "Who will get there first 1" We are told that the citizens of Berlin are becoming alarmed at the advance oE the Russian armies, and that the French are making preparations for tho defence of Paris. The city is surrounded by fortifioations comprising three distinct lines of defence. The first consists of a continuous line of ramparts, forming a circuit of about 22 miles, and beyond these two separata rings of detached forts on the surrounding heights, the outer ring extending for about 75 miles, and at about 8 miles from the ramparts, the intermediary forts varying in distance from the outer from 2 to 5 miles. The inner line of fortifications confines Paris to something resembling a pear in shape, with the stalk to the west. A circular railway runs aro'und the city just within tho ramparts. There are seven separate railways running into Paris, and for these the ramparts are pierced at nino_ points. Paris is one of the greatest fortresses in the world, and an enormous army-

would be required to invest it. During the Franco-German war of 1870 the investment of the city was completed by September 19. The Prussians made no attempt to storm it, preferring to starve it into surrender, knowing that it would be impossible to maintain food supplies for 2,000,000 people for any great length of time. In Bismarck's words, tho Parisians were left to "stew in their own juice," and sorties from the besieged city were of frequent occurrence, but they were ineffective. The invaders began to bombard Paris on.Decembor 26, and this was continued until January 19,1871. An armistice was signed on January 23, and on March 1 peace was ratified by tho Assembly. The fall of Paris practically ended the war of 1870, but on the present occasion the cap-

ture of the French- capital would, as an Italian newspaper remarks, "only be an episode" in the struggle. With the Russians threatening Berlin, and the British naval blockade cutting off practically tho wholo of Germany's trade, the Germans could not afford to keep a great army in the neighbourhood- of Paris for four months, even if the French and British forces failed to defeat them. To starve the city would cause too much delay, while an attempt to take it by storm would mean frightful loss of life and possibly end in failure.

Developments in the Balkan 1 region lave become decidedly interesting. I few days ago \vc were told that lumania was anxious to join the Ulies, no doubt'with the object of ■xtending her territory northward to imbrace the Rumanians in Austrolungary. Now Bulgaria has informed Rumania that should she take ,his decisive step she will be supjorted by the whole of the Balkan States with the exception of Turkey. Phis means, no doubt, Bulgaria and Greece, and possibly Albania, iervia and Montenegro are already mgaged in the war, and would, of :ourse, be included in this Balkan novement. On top of Bulgaria's in;imation comes the news that Turkey s on the verge- of declaring wai igainst Greece. This probably means ;hat Turkey is playing the role assigned to her by Germany. The Military Party in Turkey seems tc dominate the situation there, and th( military is largely influenced bj Jerman opinion. The Turkish A'rmj lias been under German organiser! for some ' years, while . the nava' forces have been trained unde: British Admiralty officers. The ef feefc 'of this new development woult seem to be favourable to the Tripi Entente. The war strength of th< Turkish Army is about 400,000, an< in addition there is a small navy which includes two Dreadnoughts ex elusive of the German Dreadnough Goeben, which recently took refug in the Dardanelles and was allege( to have been bought by Turkey. Oi the other hand, Rumania has a-i army of some 400,000; Bulgaria cai muster something like 350,000, anc Greece 200,000. These are all trainei soldiers, compulsory universal ser vice being in force in all these coun tries. Greece also possesses a smal navy. England has warned Turke; that by starting tho campaign shi will sign her own death warrant, am this warning may cause the Turk to pause. Germany, however, has s< much at stake that it can be relief on that she will do her utmost ti force Turkey into the fray. He; hope,- of course, is that by so doin; she will embarrass England in Egyp and.lndia. Should Turkey finall; decide to come in, this may provi the turning-point with Italy, am bring her on. to the side of tfo Entente.