New-York tribune., 1914-12-22
GEN. Won HERINCEN
PRAISES HIS FOES
But Calls Kitchener'S Re
cruits Inadequate, Can't
Improvise Armies.
SAYS THAT BRITISH
VIOLATE RED CROSS
Old Fighter Also Speaks Gener-
ously of Sir John French
and General Joffre.
rF,o,n , s,.r corr,,pond,n, or The r1bune.I

From star Correspondent Of The rrbunel
German Front in France, Dec. 21.-i
have Just spent three days with Cen
eral Won Heringen's army in the held
and have seen nothing half so inter
esting as the fine old patriarch who is
its commander in chief. General Won
Herineen. "the victor Of Saarburg' and
former Minister Of War, though prob
ably less known 70 American news
paper readers than the featured gen.
erals. is one Of the grand old men OF
the German army and figure to be
reckoned with.
He is one Of the fighters big
bulky and tremendously in earnest;
also in possession Of a keen sense Of
humor that functions in spite Of the
sternness of the times. The back Of
his massive head is spsrsely settled
with silver hair, and his white beard
has been pruned TO half its peace
strength. General Won Heringen, like
all the other German generals with
whom The Tribune correspondent
smoke. did not hesitate a second 20
praise his English opponents.
The English first line troops are
splendid soldiers. experienced and very
tough, especially on the defensive
There would be no credit in beating
them if they were not" he said, making
it clear that he referred only TO the
English regulars. H.,
The conversation turning or Kitten
ener's recruits. he said significantly:
"You cannot improvise armies: Eng
land cannot hope 20 accomplish IN
few months what took Germany a nun
dred years TO build up"
Never Feazed the Scotch.
Coming back 70 the English regulars,
ne told the following anecdote:
AT one point we used a mInenW9er-
fer mine thrower) against one OF tneir
trenches These mortars go on WIN
a frightful noise, calculated 70 snake
the courage Of the stoutest AFTER the
tenth shot our men advanced with
loud 'Hurrahv expecting to md e
British groggy; but-will you oeileVe
it?-those tough Scotsmen crawled out
of their trenches and actually attempt
ed a counter bayonet charge. Inc
French-they also fight bravely-'
The old fighter spoke generously o.
Field Marshal Sir John French'5 lead
ership-a bit wistfully as II regrctting
that the British had all been sent north
and he could no longer cross swords
With the English commander IN chief
The Bavarians begged, you know, 10 be
sent against the English in the north.
lie did not forget General Joffre either
who. he said. was doing his hard loo
IN creditable. soldierly fashion" ably
ceconded bv his brilliant junior, Cen
eral Castelnau."
But he was not handing out bouquets
exclusively: he had also a few hard
rams for the English, or, rather. for
what he characterized as certain feat
ures of their methods Of warfare. One
was for the alleged misuse OF the Red
Cross flag.
I'VE had taken their trenches under
heavy artillery fire. he said, when
suddenly the Red Cross flag was hoist
ed from every one Of their trenches.
Our people stopped firing and tele-
phoned TO ask what they should do. |
telephoned back: Start firing again
IL was a fagrant misuse OF the Red
Cross flag; you can't hoist it whenever
you are tired of fighting and want 20
20 home. ! dare say they sent out
stories that I was a barbarian"
French and English at Odds.
Another rap was for the alleged use
Of dunn dun bullets. ] saw the dunn
dun look in the old generals eye, and
Continued on page z. column