THE GERMAN OPERATIONS ON THE FRENCH FRONTIER AND IN BELGIUM

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 153, 4 August 1914, Page 6

THE GERMAN OPERATIONS ON THE FRENCH FRONTIER AND IN BELGIUM

The portion of France and Germany shown in the map has apparently been chosen by Germany as the stage for the opening act of the European drama. The principal towns are shown, and all those on the map are fortified. The country hereabouts is covered with a network of railway lines, but only the chief of these are shown. Cirey, the scene of the. initial engagement, is shown on the frontier. This tract was the scene of the "extended operations carried on by Napoleon 111. in 1870, when the cry. "A Berlin" was raised by excited Frenchmen on the frontier. The country- surrounding Metz teems With martial memories, and ,on August 14, almost exactly 44 years ago, the streets of Metz echoed the tramp of feet and the rumbling of guns as the Germans prepared for the operations which subsetmently resulted in the battles of feeyonville and Gravelotte. The numbers of the troops engaged ori that occasion were:—French: Infantry, 83,«80; cavalry, 8,030; artillery (guns), 432.. Germans: Infantry, 47,530; ; cavalry, 837Q; artillery (guns), 222. : . ' i "

TO ATTACK FRANCE.

GERMANY'S PLAN OF CAMPAIGN [Written for THE SUN.] Ever since the which precipitated United Germany inlo | nationhood and gave her the millions of the French indemnity as a war fund, Germany has carefully and systematically carried on her preparations against the possibility of another war with France. Her readiness and her precautions were shown at the time of. the Moroccan erisis some three years ago, and, it. has long been recognised that a .Franco-German war would mean international war within a few hours. The main idea of the German. Army Departments was that France must be paralysed within three weeks, so as to leave Germany the victor before England and Russia could enter the field. But things" have turned but differently, and it is more than a war with France that involves Germany. Russia is concentrating on Germany's . eastern frontier already, and the campaign plan against France must be modified. Germany has done as she intended, though, and that was to rush her troops across the border'on'to "French soil on the moment of declaration of hostilities and to fight a decisive battle supported by a big mass of troops in readiness at the rear. It is for this purpose that Germany has built her strategic railways and her fortresses all along the French frontier. It is considered that the best, means of making a successful frontal attack will be by an offensive movement through the open country between Verdun and Sedan, in the north-east of France. The French military authorities, on the other hand, have a plan for concentrating their forces behind Ton], and to devise a line of attack evading that base and forcing the French Army to make another combination is the object of the German strategists. For sixteen years Germany has been making preparations to secure a broader front for her attack,

and has fortified the line of her probable approach; strongly.

What Will Her Allies,Do?

Other factors come into the question, though, and all depends on what Germany's allies will do. Austria is kept busy in the east, and Italy has now declared her intention of remaining practically neutral; ' therefore it is not likely that she will receive help from these nations. She must therefore stand on the defensive in South Alsace. Yet, if Germany attacks through the narrow front of the ATosges district, which is precipitous country, impossible for troops in parts, she will have no more advantage than the defensive army. .Germany would have a front of 70 mi]cs to advance in, and it is estimated that in this restricted space she could not employ sufficient men, and, should the plan fail, the j: army's retreat would be exposed to heavy artillery fire from well-manned forts. Therefore it is 'to the advantages given j by a widened front that she-is looking for her first victories. Between Vedun •and Luneville 70 •miles of fortresses and batteries confront the German advance—from Verdun to Giuet there are 70 miles of undefended country. This, is Germany's objective. France left the line south of Belgium undefended because it was expected that Germany would respect Belgian neutrality" and would therefore find the space left open to her too narrow for the passage of any very large body of troops. Germany's preparations have shown that France was building on an uncertainty. It is true that Belgium's neutrality has so far been respected, but the war has just commenced, and Germany has made use of the narrow front for her advance. Six -Roads Through Belgium. Germany can command six direct roads to the French frontier through Belgian territory and the country south of Belgium, besides several useful, lines of railroads joining the main BrusselsMetz line, and these routes give an opening of practically 70 miles on the northeast border of France. Having conceived the idea, Germany has spent seven years in linking up the frontier with, her bases by means of railways built for heavy traffic, and it has r been confidently asserted that a forceof 120,000 men couid be thrown across the Belgian frontier in a single night without the Belgians knowing what was coming. For six mouths of. every year there is a force of four cavalry regiments and four horse |

artillery batteries at camp in and it is calculated that these could, be across the frontier and attacking the town of Librament within six hours of leaving their base. ; Belgium has said that in the event of her territory being invaded arrangements have been made for blowing up bridges and railway lines, but the Germans would not use the railways in the initial rush—the cavalry regiments would take possession, of all the important points. Even if the railways were blown 1 up, the roads would remain, and the roads are the most important means of ad\ r anee. The railways through Belgium have their biggest value as a means of bringing in reinforcements. Belgium Impotent. Belgium could make no adequate resistance, for, just recently, Germany has taken in hand a little branch railway -in. the Belgian frontier and converted it into a heavy-traffic line with double rails, and it now seems clear that its purpose is to give German artillery and sieg:e guns every opportunity for being installed on the highest plateau in Bel':- - gium, so giving the Belgian artillerists other work to do than cannonading the railways. But of course Germany would endeavour to convince Belgium that her object in violating Belgian neutrality was not hostility to that country, and it is possible that Belgium would be convinced, as long as victory lay" with the Germany army. A lack of such conviction in the ecse of a retreat would> how*\ ever, be serious for German troops. In the course, of a war confined to v France and Germany, much would depend upon Belgium. But so far the complications of the international" war- have j caused her neutrality to; be , Tospeeted.. : It appears that the German troops that have marched on Cirey and Longevey . have come across the German frontier, concentrating from Treves; Thianville, J and Luxemburg. This an in- ' tention to take up a strong .position: on. the, Aisne River, with the intention of marching on Stenay and Vouziers—-the first move in the German game..Germany is prepared to wasteVa -large Mimfcer of men in order to gain her primaryobjective, and France would, only be committing a v similar waste ; in r going to> meet her halfway, so that what will probably follow will be a stubborn fence in order to gain, time,*and France ; has the best chance of success if she awaits the advent of. the German f6rees in the Aisne valley and there attacks them. ''"-•-•. ' . - England Watching Belgium. The cables have said nothing about the intentions of Belgium other than that she declares her neutrality and is mobilising her forces; and no doubt the reason why Germany ■ decided to make ' use of the' limited front and not to traverse Belgian soil was that she was disinclined to bring England into the' war at this early stage, before-she had! won any. deeisi ve victory' b ver ~the - French For England must join „if Belgian neutrality is violated —she has 1 treaty obligations demanding that she shall defend' Belgium in such an event, and the test .of Belgium's intentions would be the promptitude with which she summoned England's aid. To summon England would also be an act of ■ hostility id Germany;' and it is. inferred: by some; military.- authorities, that ,Belgiuin wiil nop be .energetic iu calling on England. Although a niajofity' of ; Belgians aio ; ; ih'sympathy with France, Germany all' along has'seemed to anticipate little dif-ficulty-with that country. Yet she ..probably .expects trouble with England if once. an. opportunity is given for lip-" . holding Belgium's integrity. Invasion Well Prepared. Germany is so well prepared that English strategists do not expect that France will be able to check the Ger- : man advance in . the first stage of the war, but it is suggested that when-'ETng-land's co-operation has become possible Germany may be baffled in the second stage. Because of the Belgian Treaty, England is a factor in the war, but the German commanders are relying for; '. success on swift movements, sudden attack**, and prompt victories, and also, -, in part, on French military pride that would lead French generals to play Germany 's game of attacking now, rather than wait until the German armies are in a position to be' cut off from their line of retreat.