The latest outlook

Antwerp’s fall causes depression

The long battle line

Our positions everywhere maintained The Germans are two months behind their programme, we are two weeks behind ours.

To the enemy the loss of time irreparable, to us the delay has been costly but can be made good.

The events of the last few days have caused a diversity of opinion but on the whole the views of the critics coincide very closely to those to which expression has been given in this column.

The fall of Antwerp has released the force of Germans which had been employed to contain the Belgian army.

That army with some diminution in strength has got safely away and lives to fight another day.

On this latter point and on matters cognate we are newly instructed not to comment and the public, who are thoroughly qualified to do so, are left to think things out for themselves.

They have been told enough and more has been hinted at but for the present no more must be said in print.

It is permissible however to point out that in taking Antwerp the invader has practically exhausted the possible advantages to be derived from the dastardly attack on a neutral state and all the disadvantages remain.

It has meant a battle front extended far beyond any possible calculations of the German staff and this and other miscalculations have rendered necessary the maintenance of such a huge army, at least 24 army corps in the west, that Germany’s difficulties in the east are becoming insurmountable.

This is where the loss of time counts so heavily against the foe and it is why it is easier to survey with a measure of equanimity the further delay the fall of Antwerp may have caused in the carrying out if the allies plans.

In brief the situation remains favourable and as yesterday’s communique concluded - everywhere we maintain our positions.

Tough trials will test our patience

Progress during the last 31 days has not been so rapid as had hoped and possibly there are many severe trials for our patience yet.

But the end will come some day, and there will only be one end.

The German retreat with the position as it is at the moment may not be quite the disastrous rout we had hoped, and had doubtless been planned , but that the enemy will eventually have to retire is beyond question.

The talk of using Antwerp as a zeppelin base, it must be remembered, comes from German sources and it is hardly likely if they had those intentions, that they would advertise them so freely.