Septemljcr 5, 1914 
LAND AND WATEB 
But it is not to bo believed that a Germau Array could resist the temptation, if the 
opportunity offers, of a march upon Paris, strategically useless as such a march would be. It is 
lianlly any more to be believed that a modern French Army, engaged in this war upon the 
stupendous task of savmg the culture of Christendom from dissolution, and historic France from final 
disaster, would hesitate to sacrifice the capital, and to preserve the strategic advantage such a sacrifice 
would involve. In plain English, the Crennan advance is now in contact with the outer defences 
of Paris. This means that we must expect as a possibility^, or a probability of the immediate 
future, a falling back of the Avhole defensive line from Verdun to Paris through, or perhaps south of, 
the Eeims Camp, abandoning La Fere, and roughly foUowiug the VaUey of the lower Mame. That 
advance should, before these lines appear, have reached the outer ring of forts in fi'ont of Paris. 
Though the forts wiU be defended, I do not believe that a French armed force of any size ^-ill allow 
itself to be detached and contained within that entrenched camp. 
BAPAUMf #V 
Siruwus line stiU held last- rrr , 
yCUlSE. ^N 
enc^ 
VERDUN 
PARIS 
O 
30 
-J 
60 
r 
no 
SCALE 
OF 
MILES 
SKElCn OF TDK TWO LINES OP THE AXLIXD BRTIKBKENT nl THE COUESK OF THB LAST SIX DAYS, AND. OF THE LIXB THAT WlLIi 
rnOBABLT BB HELD WHEK OB II THE ALLIES EEPOSB THEIE LEFT ON PARIS. 
I conceive that the next phase will consist in a withdrawal of the AUied Ai-my in the field, its 
left based on the resistance of the forts round Paris — short or long — its main object a prolongation of 
the struggle with the enemy dra^vn further and further in, and with the army preserved intact to take 
a counter offensive, however belated, at last. Strategically, the Germans should mask Paris, and not 
waste time, space, and men in a diversion towards that particular area of ground. The moral effect of 
their entry into Paris is already discounted. Whether their dramatic instinct can be conquered 
by their strategical reasoning in this matter remains to be seen. Tliey know, as strategists, that their 
one and only business is to put the Allied Army out of action, not to enjoy the ban-en effect of an 
occupation. It will be a waste in any case. How much of a waste only the length of the resistance 
can show. Perhaps they wUl not so waste their remaining energy. We cannot tell till the event. 
Whether their brains will master their appetite we shall know in a very few days. 
CERTAIN SUBSIDIARY POINTS. 
Tliere are many matters in connection with this rapid Gei-man advance, the check received eight 
days ago, its resumed heavy pressure upon two points, the sinuous line of advance thus hammered out, 
and the present advance on Pai-is, while subsidiaiy to the main issue, are of poignant interest to the 
people of this countiy. 
Tlie first, of com-se, is the nature of the casualties suffered by the English contingent, their 
proportion and then- meaning. 
Witli regard to these the following points should be noticed : 
(1) The total casualties, when they are known, will considerably exceed 6,000, the first figure 
given. Over 5,000 have already been received for rather less than three-fourths and rather more than 
two-thii-ds of the British forces engaged. 
(2) Whenever a force re/ires lighting before another force which advances fighting and which 
presses upon the retirement of its opponent, much the gi-eatcr number of casualties of the retiring force 
must be niarked " missing." This distressing word does not mean that the men are lost, still less that 
they are killed ; it does not mean that they arc wounded in so rapid a retii-cmont. Men who cannot 
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