The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-11-25
GERMANY'S LINES OF DE-
1tag FENCE. # s...
FOrtifying the Empire Against Rus
sian AttackS--HOw the French
Indemnity was in d Large
Measure Expended.

!,
Measure Expended.
COLOGNE, November l6 The Berlin
correspondent of the Gazette asserts
that there is reason to regard the news
of a considerable concentration of
Russian troops on the eastern frontiers
OF Germany as well founded. A very
complete account OF Germsny's prepa-
-raiions on her northeastern frontier
against The possibility Of attack bv Rus
sia is given in an article by Captain
K rchhammer, OF the Austrian general
staff, published in the last number OF
the Austrian Military Gazette. The
writer holds that the line of defence OF
Germany on the nol theast, formed by
the Pregsl, the Vlstula, the N tz,, the
Warthe and the Oder constitutes an al
most uninterrupted front, presenting
such difficulties to an enemy that it is
not exceeded In strength by any frontier
on the E~ropean confident. A corsid
erabls pat OF the French indemnity
has been expended by the German. gov
ernment in erecting Notifications on
this line, which would be the chief pro
lection Of Germany in the event of an
attack by Russia. From the yea
1871" SAYS the writer, "to this day, the
German War Department has been Ia
boring with cqqal activity and skill al
the completion of the three great de
fensive systems of which X ,nigsberg,
Thorn and Posen and Breslan are the
centree. The permanent intrenched
camp Of Konigsberg is an imposing ex-
ample OF the modern art of fortifcation
Even greater care has been bestowed
upon the more important line of Posen-
Thorn. The shortest road to tue heart
Of Germany passes across it, and three
lines Of defence-those OF the Vi.tula,
the Netze and tie Warthe-are here
connected with each other. II the Ger
man army we're compelled to abandon
the line of TIE Ptegel tKonigsbere), it
would find thegreate est security at Thorn.
fhe connection Of this fortress With
Berlin is protected by the strong line o;
the Nezs; the army would be able to
communicate freely with the west and
southwest against an attack from Easl
Prussia and in the more dangerous
event of an attack from Warsaw
and the left bank of the Vi-tula, II
would have behind it the whole line
formed by that river as far as the sea.
The Russians could not cross the mo-
ridian Of Thorn On either line without
strategically exposing themselves. They
W ,uld, therefore, be obliged to attack
Thorn; but this place has now been
made so strong that while in German
hands it would prove almost invincibie. ;
Captain Ktrchhammer's conclusion is
that the friendship. or at least the neu-
trality, Of Austria. Hungary would in the
event of war with Germany be Of the
greatest possible military value to Rus
sia. san invading Russian army would
naturally advance against Prussian ST.
lesia, the weak point Of the German de-
fence; but it could only do so with the
permission Of Austria If, on the ether
hand, Germany wishes to act on the Of
fensive, her first step wonld be to occup,
Russian Poland. This she could only
do il her Fl inks we're secure Her left
flank is covered bs the Baltic; but her
right, unless Austria is friendly, would
be threatened from Bohemia. 1t would
therefore be her strongest interest, from
military point OF view, to assure her
self of the neu' rality Of Austria. Thus
each Of the two Powers would need the
assistance. of Austria if it contempla-
ted an attack on the other"