TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 5, 24 August 1914, Page 4

TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY.

It is regrettable that many people treat far too seriously particular items of war news, which for general information is given forth, if such news records a success, however minor, too much jubilation is indulged in while, on the other hand, a check or reverse for the Allies, however insignificant, is treated almost hysterically. That Germany has been permitted to march theatrically through Belgium is nothing to cause alarm : the official statement from the British Government is that the military position is satisfactory. We are reminded by a contem-

porary that Napoleon had contemplated his plans, and commenced his final great movement against the forces of Wellington and Blucher a few days before Waterloo, Blucher, in order to gain time for the concentration of his forces, loft General Zeiten in his real to delay the French advance. Zeiten gallantly carried out this task. He stubbornly contested every vantage

point/fightliig a yielding battle, and though' steadily driven back, 1 hindered 1 the French advance sufficiently to en;ablo Blucher to concentrate his main forces at the spot desired. In Belgium the Belgian troops have been entrusted; with a' similar task. Their duty has i been to delay the German advance, ■and by so doing afford time for'the Allies to ; bring up'their* main forces' into position for the great battle. The Belgians were never expected to defeat the enormous army of German invaders,, and they have done infinitely more than was expected of them. Germany is now up against something more serious, and in calmness and patience we must, await what follows. But above all let, us avoid hysteria. ~ .