Evening journal., 1914-11-25
TODAY 5 MOVES
IN THE WAR ZONE,
What THEY MEAN
BY J. w. 4. MASON,
Former European Manager of tn
Trnftod proce

United Press
NEW YORK, Nov. 25.-(11 a. nj
General Won Hindenberg undoubtedly
is experiencing much difficulty in re-
arranging his battle line. His road 10
Warsaw is blocked along the north
ern and southern railway lines, and
his flanks are threatened by superior
numbers. Nevertheless, the Petrograd
belief that the Germans are again
retreating TO their own frontier is
without any substantiating evidence.
There are indications that reinforce
ments are being hurried to Won Hin
denberg and until these arrive, it is
probable the Germans will not renew
their drive. At present, they are on
the defensive waiting their turn to
strike.
The conditions confronting Won
Hindenberg are so unfavorable for
success, theoretically, that it seems
as If it were a useless waste of hu-
man life to undertake the capture of
Warsaw.
The basic objective of the Germans,
however, is not Warsaw. In reality,
Won Hindenberg is not actuated by
motives of offensive strategy at all,
but by defensive considerations. His
dominating purpose is TO prevent
the Slavs invading Eastern Germany.
1t would be impossible for the Ger
mans permanently to occupy Warsaw,
because the Russians too greatly out
number them. Indeed, the Germans
probably would not quarter a large
force in Warsaw, even if they cap
tured il, for fear II would become a
saw serves as a sort of target, pro-
viding something definite at which
the Germans can aim.
In reality, however, Won Hindenbergs
primary object is not TO occupy POland's
capital, but to keep the Russian armies
moving back and forth, as far from
the German frontier as he can. The Ger
mans believe that despite the enormous
numbers of Slavs available for military
service, exhaustion will more quickly
overtake the Russian army than any
other in Europe. 1t is considered GER
tain in Germany that the Russian out
put of arms and ammunition is running
lar behind the demand and that the
spirit of officers and men can be worn
down by continual harryings Of drives
through Poland.
Viewed in this way, it would not be
German defeat if Won Hindenberg were
forced back again to the frontier, pro
vided he could use his own strategic
railway system for another concentra-
tion and another adventurous march to-
ward the Vistula. Repetition OF this
process is likely to have a pronounced
effect ON the Slavs, impressing on them
the great difficulty of penetrating any
appreciable distance into German terri
tory. Won Hindenberg is trying to
produce this state OF mind among his
adversaries. Twice has he driven them
away from the German boundary and
third similar effort may have an ap-
preciable effect in causing the Slav
leaders to conclude they cannot subdue
the Germans.
This belief will play into the hands
of the Turkish party at Petrograd, which
is working to persuade the Gar e
make the conquest of Asia Minor and
Constantinople the prime Russian OBJ
( iective OF the war. The Germans un
doubtedly are counting ON such devel
opment coming to their relief if the wal
lasts long enough. Should Won Hinden
berg be compelled to retire to the
/ lIuNtleIs ana 1T nc tdH dEdih hAlNt III
army forward. the supreme difficulty o
accomplishing anything worth while n
/ German territory VIA undoubtedly pro
duce profound impression at Petro
grad. The Constantinople party viii asl
whether Russia wants 20 see the wal
end with Russian armies held at th'
German frontier and nothing dom
against the Turks. This question d
what German influences at CONSTANT
nople and the German army in Polan'
are working desperately TO force TO tn
front among the Cars advisors.