A CHESS-PLAYER'S VIEW

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 50, 27 August 1914, Page 3

A CHESS-PLAYER'S VIEW

A chess champion sends tho Sydney Morning Horald tho following summary of tho military position from a. chess player's point of viow : — Europe just now is a Imgo chcßßboaird, on which kings, castles, knights, and tho humble pawns are fighting. Tho Germans *re admittedly tho finest chces-players in tho world, and their champions, among them Laaker, tho world'a champioiH stand out from other nation^ sthtiea. Yon Moltko arid Bifimarok were high-cla«s chess-players, and in tho FrancoPrupsian struggle they organised thoir war jratno on the linee of an experienced player of che^s. Htd those strategists been in command of tho German forces' during tho present, oritiea-1 juncture they would havo conducted their war game differently, 'and on a. chess-player's linos. Whon Kazaine was cornered in a French fortress, Moltko, tho ohen6-player, when ho played hie great match, jurt H years ago, fore> aw that tho enemy must stop iv and starve, or come ont and be slaughtered. Tho rc-iiili. of his strategy waa justified Bazaino flew tho white flag, »ud the war of the 'seventies was practically over. In the preeont crisis, Germany has forgotten the chess axiom that premature attacks recoil on the aggressor. Belgium \raa lightly regarded as a pawn in the game, which could be shifted off tho board at will. Tho result was an unexpected check, which retarded the Gevrna-n attack, and gave Franco and her allies all-important timo for perfecting defences. The consequence is that Germany stands every chance of being checkmated at & compwativ.ely early stage of the game. Franco and England have developed th&ir men, a,nd Becured ftll-impottaut strategic positions on tho board. Germany and Austria have no point of attack. . England m threatening oheokmate on tho scan, Russia and Poland aro harassing tho Germans and Austrians in tho rear, Mid the outcome of this war chess gamo must be in favour of big battalions.