The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-12-18
yes, and am glad that had been

careful 10 SeHu d SplTIIeu COllillldHuei
to that region" Westeriing replied.
$50 you guess my intention, See"
The premier smiled. He picked up a
long, thin ivory paper-knife and softly
patted the palm of his hand with it.
certainly" Westerling replied in
his ready, confident manner.
1--WE hear great deal about the pre-
cision and power of modern arms as
favoring the defensive" said the pre-
mier. Il have read somewhere that it
will enable the Browns to hold US back,
despite our advantage of numbers.
Also, that they can completely man
every part Of their frontier and that
their ability to move their reserves
rapidly, thanks to modern facilities,
makes a powerful thanking attack in
surprise out of the question"
Some half-truths in that" an
Westerling. "One axiom, that must
hold good through all time, is that the
aggressive which keeps at it always
wins. We take the aggressive. In the
space where Napoleon deployed a di-
vision, we deploy battalion today.
The precision and power of modern
arms require this. With such immense
forces and present-day tactics, the line
of battle will practically cover the
length of the frontier. Along their
range the Browns have a series Of
fortresses commanding natural open
ings for our attack These are almost
impregnable. But there are pregnable
points between them. Here, our
method will be the same that the Japa-
nese followed and that they learned
from European armies. We shall con.
centrate In masses and throw in wave
after wave Of attack until we have
gained the positions we desire. Once
We have tenable foothold on the
crest of the range the Brown army
must fall back and the rest will be a
matter of skillful pursuit"
The premier, as he listened, rolled
the paper knife over and over, regard
ing its polished sides, which were like
Westerling's manner of facile state
ment Of a program certain of fulfill
ment.
How long. will 1t take to mobilize 2"
Less than week after the rail.
roads are put entirely at our service,
with three preceding days of scattered
movements" answered Westerling.
deliberate notifications are all right
for a diplomatic threat that creates a
furore in the newspapers and a de.
preston in the stock market, but
which is not to be carried out. When
you mean war, all speed and the war
fever at white heat"
"You would have made a good poll.
tician, Westerling," the premier re.
marked, with twitching uplift of the
brows and knowing CLEAN in his
shrewd old eyes.
Thank you," replied Westerling, "a
man who is able to lead In anything
must be something Of politician
very true, indeed. Perhaps / had
that partly in mind in making you
vice-chief of STAFF" responded the pre-
mier.
Then it all goes back to the public
Ito that enormous body of human.
ity out there!" He swung the paper
knife around with outstretched arm
toward the walls of the room. "To
public opinion-as does everything
else in this age-to the people-our
masters, your and mine. For no man
can stand against them when they say
no or yes"
you know the keys to play on,
though" remarked Westerling with a
complimentary smile. mo one knows
quite so WELL"
And you are sure-sure we can
VIM" the premier asked with a long,
tense look at Westerling, who was
steady under the scrutiny.
Absolutely" he answered. olive
millions against three! It's mathe.
mates, or our courage and skill are
not equal to theirs. Absolutely! We
have the power, why not use 1t? We
do not live In dream age!"
From sudden, unwilling exertion
Of his strength the knife which had
been the recipient of his emotions
snapped in two. Rather carefully the
premier laid the pieces on the table
before he rose and turned to Wester.
ling, his decision made.
eff the people respond with the war
fever then 1t L. war;" he said. /"
take you at your word that you WI
win!"
"A condition." Westerling an.
nounced. From the moment war b.
gins the army is master of all intelli.
gence, all communication, all re.
sources. Everything we rsqvlSs goes
into the crucible!"