Evening star., 1914-12-13
GERMAN PAPERS
HINT At FRICTION
Declare Won Mottke Was Side
tracked From Position as
Chief of Staff.
EMPEROR AND GENERAL
DISARGEE on STRATEGY
Falkenhayn Is Criticised for Failure
in Western Theater Since Fall
Of Antwerp.

THE HAGUE, December II. via Lon
don. 4;45 pm-German newspapers
which have just been received here snow
that the German press. although pro-
hibited strictly from criticising any
acts of the government during the war;
Is much displeased by the sudden
change in the leadership of the Ger
man military forces. They state that
Count Won Moltke has been politely
sidetracked" as chief of the general
staff and that supreme command has
been given to "a war minister whose
behavior toward the reichstag in the
Zabern incident was insulting"
In the short biographies of Maj. Gen.
Won Falkenhayn, which the newspapers
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 tenn
porary chief of the general stan Oc-
tober 25," says the Berliner Tageblatt
HE therefore has held the position
since the fall of Antwerp. During this
User and Dixmude. 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 Room.
Friction Is Intimated.
1t is intimated in these newspapers
that there has been friction between
Emperor William and Count Won Moltke
owing to a difference of opinion con-
cerning 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 to-
ward pushing the advance IN the olrec-
tion of Calais.
AS a result of this conflict of opinion
1t is said. Count Won Moltke retired to
take the cure at Homburg, being. how
ever, in actual need of medical atten-
tion.
Gen. Won Falkenhayn then continued
the operations in Flanders under the
direction of the emperor, with results
which are described as not wholly
pleasing to the German public. An
that Gen. Won Falkenhayn would re-
main at the head of the general star.
but that Count Won Moltke might be
given another mission.
Criticised by Kaiser.
The plan of campaign of Count Won
Moltke. as originally outlined. was to
advance on Paris as rapidly as possi-
bIe. and this led to the swift move
ment toward the French capital by
Cen. Won Kluck and Gen. Won Hausen
in August and September. which was
ended by the forced retreat to the
nositions now occupied by the Ger
mans in France. 1t Is stated that fric-
tion between Emperor William and
count Won Mo1tke first occurred at this
time. the emperor taking the ground
that the move tactically was futile.
After the capture of Antwerp it was
Won Moltkes desire. according 5 to these .ss
Vard,,n.Toul line, while the emperor
pointing to the possibility Of d,7ias an enye y,
break through the wedge which Won
MoItke proposed to advance. favored
the continuation of operations against
the forces of the allies in Flanders.
This is the situation, it is now said
which finally led to von Moitke's trip
~ Hnmburg and the installation of Won
Falkenhayn as chief of the general
staff.