The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-12-14
WON M0LTKE
DROPPED
Friction with the Kaiser Is
the Cause of His
Removal
FAILURE OF
PARIS CAMPAIGN
Results in the Sidetracking
Of the Chief of
Staff

London, Dec. l4.-German newspapers
which have just been received at The
Hague show that the German press, al
though prohibited strictly from criticiz
ing any acts of the government during
the war, is much displeased by the sud
den change in the leadership of the Ger.
man military forces. They state that
Count Won Moltke has been politely
side tracked" as chief of the general staff
and that supreme command has been Civ
en- to "a war minister whose behavior to-
ward the Reichstag in the Zabern Incl
dent was insulting"
In the short biographies of Major Cen
eral Won Falkenhayn which the newspa-
pers are permitted to print they refer in
the most guarded way to what they term
his failure up to the present time in the
operations on the western front. 'Von
Falkenhayn was appointed temporary
chief of the general staff on Oct. 25,"
says the Berliner Tageblatt. He there
fore, has held the position since the fall
OF Antwerp. During this period have oc-
cured the battles of the User and Dix
nude. In this serious time, therefore,
Won Falkenhayn has been uniting all the
functions which during the war of 1870
were divided between Won Moltke and
Won Room"
1t is intimated in these newspapers
that there has been friction between En-
peror William and Count Won Moltke,
owing to a difference of opinion concern
ing the conduct OF the campaign in the
west, it being understood that while Won
Moltke favored energetic operations
against the French center, the emperor
was strongly inclined toward pushing the
advance in the direction OF Calais. As
result of this conflict of opinion, it is
said, Count Won Moltke retired to take
the cure of Homburg being, however, in
actual need of medical attention.
General Won Falkenhayn then continued
the operations in Flanders under the d.
rection of the emperor with results which
are described as not wholly pleasing to
the German public Announcement was
made five days ago that General Won
would remain at the head of
the general staff, but that Count Won
Moltke might be given another mission.
The plan OF campaign of Count Won
Moltke, as originally outlined, was to adj +,
vance on Paris as rapidly as possible, and
ibis led to the swift movement toward |
he French capital by General Won Kluck
md General Won Hansen in August and /
which was ended by the |
orced retreat TO the positions now occu-
lied by the Germans in France II is
itated that friction between Emperor
William and Count Won Moltke first oc-
urred at this time the emperor taking
he ground that the move tactically was
utle.
After the capture of Antwerp II was
ION Moltke's desire. according TO these
eports, TO concentrate efforts upon the
jerdun-Toul line, while the emperor.
'ointing to the possibility of an envelop-
ng movement by the allies or break
through the wedge which Won Moltke
proposed TO advance, favored the eontin-
ation of operations against the forces OF
he allies in Flanders This is the sit.
alton, IL is now said, which finally led b
o Won Moltke's trip TO Homburg and the
installation OF Won Falkenhayn as chief
{ the general staff.