The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-11-21
Winter Warfare.


However much Herman Riddle,
advocacy of Germany may irri.ate
those whose sympathies are with the
allies, there is no denying the fact
that few men in this country know
Germany as he docs. That knowledge
OF conditions in Germany is evil
denccd in the following explanation
or recent operations on its eastern
frontier:
he war commenced in the holiday
month Of August. 1t is now almost
winter. Snow has already fallen
heavily in the mountains of Galicia
and in parts of western Russia. The
is already being felt in the campaign
IN the east 1t will continue to be
felt more and more both in the east
and in the west, until spring comes
again with its heavy skies and inn
passable roads. The German and
Austrian armies will profit by it. The
along the Vistula in Russian Poland
IS very largely explained by it. To
have taken Warsaw and attempted to
! hold it in the face Of oncoming win
/ ter would have been folly for the
Germans. The country behind War
saw is difficult enough for commune
] a. in,
| possible. A German army in posses
sion of the city would have been
subjected to the intense cold of the
! district. to the assaults OF the enemy
and to superhuman difficulties Of COM
municatiOn with its base in Germany.
The difference in gage between the
Russian railways and the German
render continued runs from one coun-
try to the other impossible and the
roads, especially in winter are
scarcely less. With winter at hand, it
was wise strategy for the Germans to
fall back to their own frontier,
where they can maintain q winter
campaign with easy communication
with their base.
Were the German campaign
against Russian Poland to have serv-
ed but the purpose, which it seems
successfully to have served, of divert
inG the Russians from Cracow until
the SHOWS and bitter cold of the
mountains came to its assistance, it
would for that reason alone have been
worth while. 1t has. however, held
the russian invasion in check until a
further serious diversion has been
created by the action Of Turkey in
invading the Caucasus do not
think that much need be feared Of
! Russia for the next three months.
! The Russian invasion of Germany has
/ been placed in cold storage. Mean
while lighting q defensive campaign
/ on her eastern border. Germany will
! be able 10 throw large reinforce
ments from Poland and East Prus-
sia into Belgium and France, for the
! purpose of breaking down the tre-
mcndously strong defense opposed by
the British, French and Belgian
armies TO the seizure of further coast
ports"
If Eidder be correct, and his eX-
PLANTATION seems reasonable, Germany
has put the hardship of maintaining
I Il campaign on the East PruSsian
frontier upon Russia. Unless Russia
Keeps up the pressure there, Germany
will be free to use Il large part of
Ecr eastern army in France, where
the lighting viii probably be kept
| up through the winter.
On the other hard, a cessation OF
operations in Russian Poland for the
winter would enable Russia to divert
enormous forces for the task of crush
ing Turkey, to which country Ger
many ana Austria can send no aSss-
tancr 50 long rs Bulgaria remains
neutral TO avoid this disaster to
Turkey Germany may make an oc-
c.siyn.l for1y daring the winter in
the direction Of Warsaw. SO as to
compel the ear To maintain "A bg
army through the winter in Russian
toland.--Grcenvillc Piedmont.