East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-12-11
TEUTON GENERAL GAVE
LIFE STUDY TO PLAN
TO Defeat RUSSIANS
"sWAMPY Won mNDENBERG'
DEVOTED ALL ATTENTION
TO PECULIAR TACTICS.
His Chance Comes In Present War
and All the "Ifs" OF His Career
Happen Just As He Had Dreamed
They WouId-Kalser Recognizes
Ability OF Aged General.
(By William G.. Shepherd, United
Press staff Correspondent


Press staff Correspondent
! BERLIN, oct. 15.-(By Mail (
New York)-I have had an inslgt
into some Of the affairs which hay
caused the greatest interest and ey
element in the German war office.
Just as this war in itself outdoe
fiction so some OF the scenes tina
have occurred in the war offices hav
outrun imagination. There have beei
moments 80 exciting that even tn
staidest generals have cheered alou'
in their offices
An instance Of this war was tn
occasion when General Won Hinden
berg whose name has since becom,
world famous was restored to tn
army. Perhaps II Is not general.
known that Hindenberg and the kai
ser were personal enemies. II is th'
truth. however. The kaiser himself
put Hindenberg on the pension lis
six years ago in a fit Of anger against
him. Hindenberg was heartbroken;
at 67 years his career seemed smash
ed.
When the war broke out the kaiser
ordered lists should be prepared in
cluding the name Of every general
who might help Germany. Hinden-
berg's name was not put on the list
The kaiser noticed the omission.
Where's Hindenberg? ne asked.
Germany needs him"
90
the war office sustained. But a
greater surprise was in store for the
men in the big stone building in Ber-
lin in connection with the same Hin
denberg.
Hindenberg has been a one-idea
man throughout his life. Every Ger
man general in the war office is a
specialist on some tartics or plan, but
Hinderberg was considered almost
queer in regard to a certain plan
he had for crushing a Russian force
in Eastern Prussia.
He had figured when he was a
young officer that. il Germany and
Russia ever fought each other and
that. IL Russian troops started for
Berlin by way Of Eastern Prussia,
and that. IL on their march they got
near Konigsberg or Tannenberg, and
that IL he were in charge of German
troops in Eastern Prussia-if all these
Ifs came true. he would get the
Russians into a trap and drive them
back into the swamps in the lake
country and let the swamps whip
them. providing-one more "if'-I
that all this would not occur in the
winter time when the swamps were
frozen.
All of Hindenberg's success in life.
in fact, depended on all these ifs"
true and he was laughed al
In the army and in German court cir
cles for stalking his career and his
place in German military history on
such a slim and, apparently. imprac-
tlcable chance. He was called
'swampy Hindenberg" by his inti-
mates. Many Of his holidays he spent
IN the lake country in Eastern Prus- |
sia studying the ground There was
not a mudhole in the area that he |
lid not know; its width, its depth. |
he nature of the earth around il. |
Eastern Prussia swamps were his life |
itudy When the war broke out Hin
ienberg was sent to Eastern Prussia.
II the age of 67 years, after decades |
If theorizing and friendly ridicule he
Vas to be given his chance in life at
asst
The war office kept its eyes on Hin
In the early days of August
he Russians crossed the border into
Eastern Prussia. Five great army
orps. apparently irresistible in their
night, began their ponderous pro-
ress toward Konigsberg Miles and
niles they went into Prussia unchal-
rnged. Hindenberg held back as he
ad planned to do. His life dream
'as coming true. The Russians de-
troyed villages. seized large towns
nd fastened on toward the great
lodern city of Konigsberg with its
$4,000 inhabitants and its rich
orehouses. The Russians are over
helming Prussia" said worried Ger
lany. Weak German lines fear to
leet oncoming Russians" said the
merican newspaper headlines. But
lie German war office held its peace
nd its breath, waiting to see whether
indenberg's lifelong dream had
cen all mistake and his entire
areer only an error, At last the
ussians reached Tannenberg coun-
y.
And Hindenberg struck! America
lows by this time that il was one OF
e most terrible battles in human
story. Hindenberg folded back the
lemselves helpless, The Russian
und only swamp behind them into
hich they retreated and found
emselves helpless. The Russians
nter Hindenberg drove back
'ainst another great swamp area
ere his men took $4,000 Russian
isoners. The oncoming Russian
It had still another swamp re-
rved for II. Hindenberg's men =
ught like demons, but It was the n
amps that whipped the Russians, II
lie Germans were outnumbered
rec to one but $4,000 Russians were ST
isoners of the Germans within SO h
'urs and the losses on both sides p
re 100, 900 men, dead and wounded. IL
The decorum of the war office went 81
pieces when the first news came OF n
ndenbergs success. "Swampy ii
whole life OF g. years
d been justified by SO hours OF
,hting a
Moro Hears SlelghbCllS. q