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Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15446, 8 September 1914, Page 6

This morning's actual 11 news from the seat of war adds little to what we knew yesterday. The Germans, it seems clear, will not be so rash as to attempt an assault on Paris under present conditions. The waggons and equipment so vaingloriously addressed "Berlin to Paris' 5 must be laid up at a siding. In a considerable battle to the south of Guise the French have driven back three German army corps, heavy loss and in disorder. Guise is on the river Oise, which for military purposes might be called a French continuation of the Meuse, pointing to Paris. A""T)arently the Germans have not made all the progress by this rojid which some pessimists had imagined. The south-eastern movement of another force, past Paris, has been continued, not without a slight check fi;om the French. An enveloping movement upon the Anglo-French flank has been abandoned by the Germans, states a message from the High Commissioner. " either because it was impracticable to continue such a great extension, or because the alternative of a direct attack ut>on the Allies' line is preferred. Whether this abandonment by the Germans is voluntary, or enforced by the strategic situation and the great strength; of the Allies in their front will be revealed by the course of events."

The Press Bureau's general surrey of last week's operations treats tire situation calmly. We are told tliat tliere lias been no new main trial of strength, that all the battles hare been merely "incidents," as battles will be fought in this campaign, and that the retreating movements of the Allies hare been part and parcel of their strategy. We can read this in conjunction with yesterday's report from Ottawa that the Canadian Government "makes 110 secret that the Allies' retre'at to Paris is being earned out exactly as was intended, and it expects favourable news from, the Allies shortly." As Air Asquith has said, we must learn to take long views while this war lasts, and not attach undue importance to single successes and reverses. The despatch to Berlin of 62,000 aluminium identification plates of German killed shows that the Germans are paying heavily for such advances as they have made. Sir John French's report that every arm of the British Expeditionary Force has shown marked superiority over > the enemy crowns other tributes to the valour and efficiency of the British troops. Their losses have been heavy, but it is claimed that they do not amount to more than one third of the losses they have inflicted. thousand more British soldiers have arrived in France, and they are* only the beginning of reinforcements. The Navy also must be doing well when the British Government can decide to disarm all British merchantmen, because the trade routes of the Atlantic are now free from even the smallest German cruisers. The other task which the Navy is performing, silently, but quite effectually no doubt, is that of pinching Germany's stomach by its blockade. A nation, like an army, fights upon its stomach, and this ceaseless pressure of the Navy means more than many land victories in the war. The Russians are still making progress both in Austria and Germanv:

2s"ews from. Belgium is inspiriting. "Terrorism" lias so far failed to cow tlie Belgian spirit that the Germans, -wlio lost rnany men in capturing tlie small town of Teriaode, have now had to evacuate tlie place to save themselves from being cut off,; from Brussels. Their occupation of Brussels, though it must have pleased the Kaiser's vanity, is lilfety to be. more a disadvantage than an advantage to them. ' The position has no military advantages, it absorbs a garrison, and communications

liave-to be maintained. The Belgians have not hesitated to flood large areas of their country for the purpose of embarrassing their invaders. Other reports indicate that the Germans are not having all their own way in Belgium by any means.

The cables have been backward in informing us of the loss of liheims, whose capture by the Germans must have taken place some days ago. and is only reported, as if incidentally, now. lllieims is the most easterly of the fortresses which guard Paris from an invasion made through Belgium. It should not have been captured without henvy fighting. Rlieims. famous for its cathedral and its wines, was an important town in the time of Julius Caesar. It was held by Ihe Germans during- the Avar of 1870-71, and a chain cjf' detached forts, strengthening its defences, was built after the conclusion of that struggle.