A PLOT WHICH FAILED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11216, 23 October 1914, Page 4

A PLOT WHICH FAILED.

Alexander M.'. Thompson wrote in a recent issue of the "Clarion":—

Above the smoke of war one fact shines clear: the Prussian plot has failed. . .

Let us look back. What was to_ be the first condition of success? Russia was to be beaten and r^ I ] C j smashed before England was tackled. " Our great historian and national politician,;' Professor Tfeitschke, was emphatic on that point': it was only after Franco and Russia had been disposed of that Germany was to proceed with " (lie letzte una grosste Abrechnung mit England" (the last and greatest reckoning with England). \\ ell. that part of'the plot broke down at tbe start, England, which, according to the confident reports of Prince Lichnowsky, had both nands occupied with civil.war in Ireland, was suddenly seen to be using those hands, in cordial clasp of union with the rebels. Aitd England's Government, which was supposed to be ruled by an effeto sentimentalism that would prefer dishonour to bloodshed, amazingly declared war rather than consent to the tearing up of a mere "scrap of paper." Thus vitally, from the first, the Prussian plot failed.

General ron Bernhardi said in the book which I summarised last week that: .

"A smashing victory oter France will serve to paralyse the Russian attack, and should have the effect of causing England to refrain from helping a fallen friend. France lives or falls by Paris."

When the Prussian plan had so ignominiously failed to " cause England to refrain from helping a fallen friend," it became more urgently needful than ever to deliver the "smashing victory over France" which was "to paralyse the Russian attack." the instrument which was to deal the swift decisive blow was the secretly prepared 16in Rrupp siege and field gun, tJie mightiest and deadliest engine of war yet designed by science. It made its dramatic debut at Namur and achieved an immediate and sensational success; that must bo frankly admitted. It reduced in two days a rortress which was expected to hold out for three months. It staggered and disconcerted tbo Allies to sucli an extent that for four dark days their "strategic retirement" from the Belgian frontier perilously resembled a rout. Then on a memorable Wednesday the British saved the Allied left by a heroic stand at Le Gateau against vast superiority of numbers, and General Pau, coming up with reinforcements from Alsace., cnecked the German centre at Uuis». This enabled tbo Allies to rally and recover breath, and the farfclier ■ rofcrca t, though still' marvellously swift, lias euuoo been fought step by stop in unbroktoi line, \nde--str etched 'from tfco <ieqx-.u:ik pivot of Belfort. At tbo limo o'r writing the Allies preserve their solid front under cover of llut Paris forts on I lie left and of the unimpaired Yo-jjfs fortresses ou the right. Sedan Day has 'and ' the " smashing v'ietory over Fraueo" has no;, yet, " piiral\>fd the Russian attack." r»u sectiou of

the Allied army has beeji isolated and defeated as MacMahon was in 1870. There have been no battlefe of Woertb, Spicheren, Mars-la-Tour or Gravel ottoNo mass of troops has been flung into fortified futility as Bazaine was in Metz. Paris."has not fallen; indeed, the Prussians, have not deemed it prudent to attack the Pans forts while the main, French amy remain undefeated. In this respect, most signally, the Prussian plot has failed. A third essential of tho Prussian plan was that Austria should hold back the Russian advance by invasion of Russian Poland. It was manifestly impossible for tile Russians to invade roSen until the security of their two flanks was assured by sweeping out Easteru Prussia in the north arid Galicia in the.south. Now the latter has been achieved. The ill-starred Austriaus. the invariably defeated of the past century, have, failed once more to justify; their ancient military reputation, and the Sedan that was to come to the French has fallen, to their lot instead. The Russian road to Posen and Berlin has been opened wide by the " smashiiis: victory " of Lemberg. The despised Russians have proved immeasurably more efficient than the vaunted Austrians, and the Germanic armour •• cracks under the staggering blows ; of the Russian Colossus. Tho Austrians are shattered, their armies in flight, their guns rind ammunition lost. The armies of the Russian centre waiting on the banks _ ot the \ istula will now enter intoaction. Thus again and again and again the Prussian plot has failed. ,