Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-24
CHAPTER VII.
Making 4 War.

hotel reception room. Before he
reached homo he would have changed
them to ten to one. A scare bulletin
about the Bodlapoo affair compelling
attention as his car halted to let the
traf1c Of cross street pass, he bought
a newspaper thrust in 1t the car win
dow that contained the answer Of the
government Of the Browns to . dis
patch of the Grays about the dispute
that had arisen in the distant African
jungle. This he had already read two
days previously. BY courtesy OF the
premier. 1t was moderate in tone. as
became power that had 100000 sol.
diers against its opponents 5000. 900:
nevertheless. It firmly pointed out that
the territory Of the Browns had been
overly invaded. on the pretext Of So
curing . deserter who had escaped
across the line, by Gray colonial
troops who had raised the Gray nag in
place of the Brown nag and remained
defiantly In occupation OF the outpost
they had taken.
AS yet. tho Browns had not attempt
ed to repel the asgressor by arms for
fear Of complications. but were relying
on the Gray government to order .
withdrawal Of the Gray force and the
reputation Of q commander who had
been guilty Of 10 grave an International
affront. Tho surprising and illuminat-
ing thing to Westerling was tho in
spired statement to tho press from the
Gray foreign once. adroitly appealing
to Gray chauvinism and justifying the
'intrepidity" Of the Gray commander
IN response to so-called pin-pricking"
exasperations.
At the door Of his apartment Fran
co.'s. his valet and factotum, gave Wes-
terling . letter.
Important. sir." said Francois.
Westerling know BY glance that it
was. for 1t was addressed and marked
Personal in the premier's own hand
writing. A conference for ten that
evening was requested in . manner
that left no doubt Of its urgency.
Curiosity made him q little ahead Of
time. but he found the premier await
Ing him in his study. free from inter-
ruption or eavesdropping.
In tho shadow Of the table lamp the
old premier looked his years. From
youth he had been in politics. ever q
bold figure and daring player. but
now beginning to feel tho pressure of
younger mems elbows. Ponder even
of power, which had become . habit,
than in his twenties. he saw it slipping
from his grasp ct an age when the
downfall Of his government meant that
he should never hold the reins again.
He had been called an ambitious dem.
agogue and . makeshift opportunist by
his enemies. but the crowd liked him
for his ready strategy, his genius for
appealing phrases, and for the gam
blers virtue which hitherto had made
him q good loser.
You saw our communique tonight
that went with the publication Of the
Browns dispatch :" he remarked.
YES. and am glad that l had been
careful to send . spirited commander
to that region" Westerling replied.
$50 you guess my intention. l see."
The premier smiled. He picked up .
long, thin ivory paperknife and softly
patted the palm Of his hand with it.
Certainly" Westerling replied in
his ready, confident manner.
I'VE hear . great deal about the pre-
cision and power Of modern arms n
favoring the defensive" said tho pre-.
mier. II have read somewhere that 1t
will enable tho Browns to hold US back,
despite our advantage of numbers.
Also, that they can completely man
every part Of their frontier and that
their ability to move their reserves
rapidly, thanks 70 modern facilities.
makes . powerful thanking attack in
surprise out Of the question"
Some halftruths In that" an
Westerling. "ons axiom. that must
hold good through all time, IL that the
aggressive which keeps at it always
wins. We take the aggressive. In the
space where Napoleon deploysd . di.
vision, We deploy . battalion today.
The precision and power OF modern
arms require this. With such immense
forces and present-day tactics. the line
of battle will practically cover the
length Of the frontier. Along their
range the Browns have series Of
fortresses commanding natural OPEN
inas for our attack. These ara almost
But there arc pregnable
points between them. Here. our
method will be the same that the Japa-
nese followed and that they learned
nom European armies. We shall con-
cantrate in masses and throw in wave
after wave Of attack until we nave
Kained the positions We desire. Once
re have . tenable foothold on the
crest OF the range the Brown army
must fall back and the rest will be .
matter Of skillful pursuit"
The premier. % he listened. rolled
The paper knife over and over, regard
Ing it, polished sides, which were like
manner Of facile state
ment q . program certain Of fulnll.
ment.
.lIow long win It take to mobilize?''
Less than . week after the rail.
roads are put entirely 1t our service.
With three preceding days OF scattered
answered Westeriins.