MODERN WAR-A STALEMATE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2671, 18 January 1916, Page 5

MODERN WAR-A STALEMATE

MR. H. G. WELLS'S OPINION. Bj' Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (ltec. January 17, 3.20 p.m.) London, January 16. Mr. H. G. Wells, writing to the "Daily Chronicle," pays a striking tribute to the Germans' thoroughness and adaptability. A Russian named Bloch, prior to the Boer War, declared Siat -war was played out, because when the combatants were fairly equal the increasing defensive efficiency of entrenched infantry would nullify the most brilliant strategy, and attacks in superior numbers, resulting in a deadlock. Mr. Ay ells points out that the Germans studied Bloch, who was not translated into English. The Germans correctly reckoned that their 1914 army would oppose an enemy retaining the 1900 methods. ."When the Germans built their strategic railways France should have prepared the most complete trenchworks. The Germans should never have passed Liege and the Ardennes. One of the marvellous maxims of tho dark ages, which seem to be the chief reading of onr military experts, states that an army which entrenches is defeated. "Until the Battle of the Marne the war was loose and mobile, and on the 1900 pattern, the Germans being confident in their overwhelming numbers. They then abruptly changed the game, adopting the 1914 rules, and entrenched, offending the British sporting instincts. The Germans did not expect that the Allies would modernise so soon—thej; reckoned that they would achieve victory with the Allies still fifteen years behind. Wo must not expect any triumphal entry—either into London, Paris, Berlin, or Moscow. M. Blocli's prophecies have been justified on the Eastern front, the Western front, and on Gallipoli, and unless a sudden fceace occurs, there will be a deadlock, of which the Balkans can be only a dramatic, tragic, spectacular, and inconclusive, sequel. Tho war can end only by the succumbing of the most exhausted of the immobilised and shattered antagonists."