But will not the Germans be able to envelop the
Allied armies and destroy them ? No. The Allied line is too long, for though of course the Germans might be able on our left wing to surround and cut off the British force, or a large portion of it, that, though to us a cause of sorrow and a tremendous loss, would not by any means give the ultimate victory to the Germans. If it is necessary for our troops to fight a vast Thermopylae to stop the German invasion, they must fight it, and will fight it, with relentless deter- mination. There is, however, no indication at present that this is in the least likely to happen. General French is a past- master at extracting his troops from difficult places with honour and success, and let the German advance be never so tremendous in numbers and impetuosity, he may be trusted to "do the needful."
