The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-14

| eral We know that the Army OF Nortnern
| Virginia. under leadership of genius, won
every battle in the State. and vet was finally
compelled to surrender at Appomattox Court
house to overwhelming numbers commanded
by An inferior general. In the wars against
Austria and France. Moltke. supported py
greatly superior numbers, simply compelled
the surrender of less numerous armies left
headless or without generals. as those norni-
nally in command turned out from the start
to be wretched failures. To-day this Is the
accepted verdict of impartial authorities every
VIII ere.
The style of fighting practiced by Moltke
was identical in both Austria and France 80
uniform. indeed stereotyped. as to admit OF
its exact repetition in France after its first
trial in Austria. IL was warfare OF amechsni-
cal order based on the routine principles
handed down from the olden days. both by
tradition and looks, and it was unaccompa-
MED by the slightest trace of original. or in
ventive, genius. In no sense Is 1t allowable
to compare the very successful marshal TO
Napoleon as "a master of war " yet. this Is
Just what his English admirer unbesitatingly
does Moltke's individuality was not a
strong one; VIGOROUSLY he was
weak in will-power overruled by
monarch and minister on frequent occa-
sions. Throughout his whole. long career he
was the docile. obsequious servant and sub
ect of his King. content TO occupy the back
ground as mere staG officer. Strictly, he
never commanded in a single battle, and
therefore be was not a general; he was only
counsellor-at-war q sort Of advisory director
in the rear. Undoubtedly he was learned,
professionally so. in all that the text books Of
war could teach him, but these never yet
made a great general-barely routine gene
raj.
His campaigns were crowned with victory
because he was every time confronted by in
feuor armies. utterly demoraized from their
lack of generalship but if he had been OPP
posed by decent skill and fair numbers it is
certain that the cut-and-dried system which
he really did enforce would not have met the
smooth play and showing that it luckily and
accidentally gained. As the circumstances
were that system swept the field for him. The
huStl4di4o anu NCiC bbNAAiy 0HD'pA baSh
in their tracks, without the interposition OF
single stroke denoting aught save the most
ordinary manuuvering and commonplace
tactics. He invaded both Austria and France
with his army divided into two columns. so
widely separated as to have been easy of de-
feat by the sudden concentration of his oppo-
nents, if these had been worthy of the name
of generals. Strategy SO detective easily
conveyed the lab lily to failure, to the up
setting of all his plans
Withal. General Wolseley enthusiastically
proclaims him to have been "a master of
war" nearly equal to Napoleon" Yet I'M
mediately after this decisive compliment. he
adds "Moltkes powers were. however never
tried by reverses OF defeat. that crucial test
of the highest order of military genius"
Again 1T would be impossible TO say that
his battles were won by himself or by what
particular general they were won" they
were not designed by HIM" The information
sought by General Wolseley's puzzled imagi-
nation might be easily furnished to him:
Moltke's battles were mainly designed and
won through the absence of any generalship
on the Austrian and French sides even to
cope with his own.