THE JOURNEY TO THE SEA.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2601, 9 April 1915, Page 2

THE JOURNEY TO THE SEA.

Fiio,\i September 13 the German resistance, supported by strong defensive works —-which had been cunningly prepared in advance—cut off the hope of the French forces that they would bo able to continue the pursuit without stoppage. Instead, a new battle commenced, in which the German headquarters staff hoped lo turn the French left just as the French attempted to turn the German right. Tlie development of these two turning movements characterised ibis phase of the war. From then on there was a struggle iv mobility which, at the end of October, prolonged the two battle fronts right, to the North Sea. It was, indeed, a journey to the sea. In this movement the Germans had an advantage over the French, owing to the con centric front of their line making transport easier. But, in spito of this advantage, the enveloping movement by their right—which was carried out by twelve activo corps, six reserve corps, and four' cavalry corps -was a complete failure. And this failure confirmed the victory of the Manic. From September 11 General Jolfre launched against iho German right the whole strength of Maunoury's army; Irat this army, with the force at its disposal, was not sufficient for the task; and towards tbe 20th of tlie month a new army was constituted on the left of Mauneury'e army, placed under General Caßtlenau. This army established its strength in the region of Lassigny, Roye, aud Peroune, supported at its left by tho territorial divisions of General Brugiere, "But, in order (<> retain our own, thir. v nn not enough, and en September 110, further up than Castle nau't; army, an army undfr General ' Moudliuy entered into line, holding J tho district of Arras and Lew, aud extending towards the north in order to join with the divisions moving from Dunkirk. In the presence of the enormous efforts of the enemy, however, this proved but a thin Hue, and too far flung." At this critical moment, at tlie request of General French, it was decided to move the I'mglish army from the Aisne to the I.vs. At fhe same time, the valiant Helgiau army, which had left Antwerp ou October 0, covered by English and French marines, look up it« position in I lie Yser district to strengthen the barrier "which had lo be formed and held. These events, however, took time, for the Fuglish army could not gel into action in its new then tie before October 2(1. while the Belgian army, on the other hand,

which had just been fightiug for three months on end, had, for the moment, run out of munitions. The General' in-Chief did not hesitate. He ordered a new effort, charging General Foch, from October 4, to go north and coordinate the operations of the northern forces on the spot. On the 18th, he placed at Foch's disposal reinforcement's which, constantly growing until November 12, were to form tho French army in Belgium under General Durbal. From now on this army, in conjunction with the Belgians and the English corps, operated between the sea and the Lys. The Geneva Journal, in summing up this period of the war, wrote that "the French command, by the rapidity aud magnitude of these movements, had displayed an unconquerable mastery, and the result of this effort was a total failure of the German attack in Flanders."