Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-27
voN MoLTKE,s TRIUMPH.
He Was the Directing Spirit in the
Franco German War.


In regard 70 Won Mcltke's hand in the
late war between Germany and France,
writer says. The campaign against France
.n 800 S one of the most complete and sue
ccssfIl military undertakings in history
The key 70 the military policy which die
tated the plan of campaign is found in the
words OF this great German soldier writ
ten more than ten years before. In his
published report on the AustrO-ltalian war
OF lS59 General MOltke SAYS; Certainly
the grave reasons against the hopes Of
successful execution Of his plan did
not escape the sagacity Of the
Emperor Napoleon, but he could
rely on bis army, and he acted rap
idly by surprse-vigorously aud he
who acts in that way generally reaps ad-
vautages which the temp0rizing lose
II was simply the application of the ideas
% the great Napolean, and in all his sub
sequent campaigns General Nolt1e acted
upon this system, but he lent 10 il his
knowledge Of technical detail and in the
war with France especially he suOOrdi-
mated everything 10 the general ideas Of
Count Bismarck, assisted By the Minister
of war, for there is no doubt that
Bismarck shared largely in the draft
OF the plan Of campaign. II was
political as well as a military campaign
AnW AA NNLnNAN Aiult All kAt AAULE uAlltMAA
Of successful execution. Germany must
fail if France succeeded, which is some
thing more than the truism imputed 70 a
favorite writer-Germany as an empire
was impossible unless the Empire of NdpO-
leon was Ovcrthrown. IL was an occasion
% test the courage as well as well as The
skill Of a great soldier. but General MOltke
never despaired, and when asked whether
be always had mistaken confidence in the
success OF his plan he answered that he had.
after the Saxon frontier had been passed
so rapidly, for that was the point which
had 10 serve as the basis Of the plan. We
had % pass it-that was an absolute neces-
sity for US. And yet the plan was an eX-
tremely hazardous one
"MsHv soldiers would have been fright
eued by the scattering Of our forces on
line Of two hundred and fifty miles" said
General MOitke, "but most persons were
mistaken about our operations They took
Tor strategical movements what was only
! preparatory, and the error was first per
'ceived when the various corps united
oy rapid marches into three great
armies OF Sedan. On the morning Of
the battle our forces stood as vet on
lire OF twenty miles; they burst not be
attacked Ia that condition. But our taking
the offensive Ia rapid advance united all
corps on the battlefield and changed the
stragetical disadvantage of separation into
the tactical advantage OF complete sur
rounding OF the enemy. Ii was alike ia
our whole campaign; we were not in
splendid situation az the beginning OF the
war with our three disunited coprs. but
every day that passed without our advance
being prevented brought US nearer 10 vic
tory The story Of that campaign, SO
rapid and complete need not be told over
again. but its history, which made General
Moltke the acknowledged strategiSt OF the
age, will also give him high place among
the soldiers OF all time