Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18
HTNDENBURG HAS
FAITH In ULTIMATE
GERMAN TRIUMPH
Commander Praises Austrian
Allies and, Giving Credit
to Russians, Says Foe
Must Fall.
VIENNA, Dec. IS,

VIENNA, Dec. 49,
A correspondent OF the Vienna Neue
Frele Presse has obtained an interview
from Field Marshal Won Hindenburg, the
hero OF Germany A translation Of the
main portion OF the article. as published
here. follows!
In answer to question relative to what
experiences he has had since the CO.
operation Of the German and Austro-
Hungarian armies, General Won Hlnden-
burg answered.
THE Austtlans and Hungarians are ex-
cellent soldiers. Men as well as officers
are brave and courageous. We have been
nghting shoulder to shoulder and have
implicit confidence in the ultimate success
OF our mutual hghting. We esteem the
AuAtrlans and HunEarlans as excellent
comrades. The relation between the two
armies Is very cordial, At present we are
maintaining lively connections with Cen
eral Dankl, the leader of the First Aus
trian Army Corps, with which we have
established lines Of communication"
PRAISES FOR RUSSIANS.
The conversation changed from friends
TO enemies. In answer to question
about the Russians. General Won Hinden-
burg said:
''The Russians. too. are good soldiers
They have discipline, and discipline VIII
eventually decide this war. But Russian
discipline is entirely different from Ger
man and Austro- Hungarian discipline IN
our armies discipline Is the result OF
spfrlt and morale. while I'm the Russian
army 1t is a combination OF silent, inane
obedience. The Russian soldier stands
stln because he Is told to stand still, Ana
he stands as If nailed to the spot. what
~ L aatH nf the Russians nOIUA
good even today; 1T Is not sufficient TO
shoot tho Russian dead. 1t Is also neces-
sary to throw him down.
yes. the Russians are good soldiers
the General repeated But nevertheless
one needn't fear them. We are not at al
afraid Of the Russian superiority, Superl-
ority Is characteristic of the Russians
1t is their principal weapon lie VINO
fights against Russia fights against
superiority. At Tannenberg they were
three times stronger than our forces YET
Il has been show how much that helped
them. Oh no. this superiority is not halt
as dangerous as 1t appears Numerical
superiority is not decisive. especially not
at the present stadium OF the war
czAR's ARMY TAGGED OUT.
."Though the Russians drive against our
borders like a huge steamroller, they will
not find 1t possible to roll over us Quite
the contrary; the Russians are tagged
out. They may say and do what they
please the fact remains that all indlca-
tions point toward speedy dislntegratlon
of their forces. They are beginning to
feel the lack of arms and ammunition
The prisoners we take point significantly
with their hands toward their mouths
That means that their soldiers are
hungry Even their officers lack FOOD
ath Ia pnntnrHd one VINO was
disguised as a peasant, He was about
TO be shot as a spy. At the last moment
he succeeded in establishing the fact that
he had disguised himself for no other rea-
son than to obtain food.
''Unfortunate though that may seem, It
favors us. War cannot be conducted
along sentimental lines, The moro cruel
war Is being waged the more mercitul is
its reality, because the sooner the war
is terminated. The most humanitarian
way of conducting q war Is that which
brings about peace most quickly"