New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-16
Kaiser's Army, Staff Major
Says, Is Following Set
Programme.
HE DEFENDS MARCH
INTO BELGIUM
Ritter RidiculeS Charge That
Troops Operate in Close For
mation-SeeS Success.

A defence Of German military
methods, together with q detailed de-
scription OF the manner in which the
Germans attempted 20 take Liege, has
been written by Major tlrich Ritter
81 the German General staff.
Major Ritter came 20 America sew
cral weeks ago on the liner George
Washington 60 study railroad trans
portati0n in this country from a mill
tsry standpoint He left Germany
some time before Austria issued heI
ultimatum TO Servia. 10 is generally
believed that Germany, foreSeeing the
var. sent Major Ritter to this country
60 become acquainted with the Ameri-
can method Of moving troops. Major
Ritter's statement. in part, follows;
The severe criticism of German
operations. especially at the seat Of
war In Belgium. on the part OF the
American newspapers is based on the
impressions gained by people that
have not been trained In military
matters.
The greatest astouishmeut was
caused BY the report that German
soldiers had been killed Wholesale
because they fought in closed
ranks" and from this statement the
deduction was made that the Ger
man soldiers still adhere 20 the tao
tics Of Frederick the Great and
have not learned anything in the
mean time.
10 would have been military sui
eide Il Germany, disregarding the
neutrality Of the Little Kingdom,
had not opened operations against
the military forts Immediately, before
the French could do so.
Soldiers are now massed along the
entire line from Belfort practically
TO the North Sea, and the two armies
arc facing each other, but they are
facing each other not on German
soil. but ON Belgian soil and in
France. so that the great battles will
not be fought in German territory.
Sees Teuton Against East.
one point that has not been en-
phaszed iu any Of the reports, re-
views and correspondence up 20 this
time. but that strengthens the ar
gument of German sentiment that
this was essentially a war Of Ash
attic barbarism against 1eutonic civ
Iization. is that England has COM
bucd her forces with those OF the
~lsys and has endeavored TO draw
japan. Nongolian nation, into this
affair. seemingly with success. ia
nan appears 20 be taking the aggres-
-.vc against Germany ln her Ash
attic possessions, which is the intro
ductiou Of Japan 20 the present
stage Of European politics.
The vanguard Of the German army
~ the north, which was supposed
to push through Belgian territory,
aiming for the modern fortresses OF
Licge, was engaged in battles last
ING several DAYS. The heavy Ger
man artillery arrived only after
these operations had begun, because
the German soldiers had moved TOO
quickly. Even with this handicap
the German loss In storming so for
midable o fortified place as Llege,
"a. given out by reliable sources, IS
r.timated az from 1000 TO 5000, al
though the enemy reported as high
.s $4,000.
pI-regarding the tremendous diff
.lrics. and alive only 90 its duty,
tho vanguard Of the German army
.r Belgium attacked Liege, took the
rIir and obtained possession OF the
greater part OF the fortifcations.
Do s not strange that observers
wen. s.tonished at two reports writ
..r b., civilians that The Germans
had attacked the Belgians at Lege
fn close formation. These reports
caused the remark that Germany
had learned nothing and had not
improved her tactics since Freder-
.rl Che Great. What actually hap
uered WAS that. IN storming a Tort
.oldiers were thrown in sklrmish
line I'm ID circle OF 5000 yesrds. In
aJvsnciug this circle narrowed down
mud the line Of the soldiers closed
rrsdusIly a. they progressed, until
,t 800 wards they were IN close Tor
nation. Hence It can easily be un-
derstood that ultimately they had
90 tight practically solid lines
Success Is Assured.
The besieging artillery arrived IN
Tho meantime. and started effective
operstions against the fortltcations,
took greater part OF them, and
now Do IS onlv matter OF a rev
days until complete German success
d. assured.
The army Of the North to-day
overlooks the Mas, and It's van
guard is occupying d line between
Diest and Namur. These vanguards
consist not only Of attachments OF
cavalry and Of field guns, but also
Of machine guns. Gradual progress
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