Now for the local situation. The Germans have come on
with a terrific impact and with splendid collective courage, as every one who knew anything of the German military machine knew they would. They are pressing their attack as men press it who know that they must risk everything for a speedy victory. That is magnificent, and for the Germans it is no doubt necessary, but it remains to be proved whether it is good military business. To the French it is naturally very terrible to fall back, for it exposes Department after Depart- ment of France to the miseries of invasion. But remember that every fifteen miles, every day's march, that the French fall back renders the German position more difficult. Any one can see this by thinking of the position if the French were to move back for a hundred miles. When the Germans had penetrated so far, the number of men whom the French could put into the firing line would remain as great as ever. The number of Germans at the front must have been very greatly reduced.
