Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-07-29
GERMANY MIGHTY VICTORIES,
lBy Carl w. AckermanN


Omitted Press Staff CorreSp,mdeptl
Berlin, July 99.--ln the western cam.
paign Germany met new conditions OF
modern warfare ana overcame them
before the enemies were able TO do so.
In the eastern war area old conditions
of fighting have prevailed thrughout
the u months. and Germany again has
shown that she is Skilful with the old
as with the new,
The more valuable territory waich
has fallen 10 German arms i'm this war
is Belgium and northern France These
conquered districts are far more veal
thy than are the captured Polish aud
Baltic areas. Yet without doubt, the
chief glories of the German armies have
been won in the east. Germany is
prod of the wear 5 magnificent record
in the west, but il is the march of
events in the east that thrills the Ger.
man people to their very souls. In pop.
ular imagination, the might of the Rus.
sian empire was the most lisQuietinu
fact of the war.
This belief was encouraged hy the
general feeling that if Germany were
must be overwhelmed before Russia s
mighty millions coald be mohiized. But
Russia came ON before France was over.
whelmed. Germany had to meet her
enemies ON two fronts at once. The
people of the empire tremhled last sum.
mer as Russia s nordcs crept further
and further into east Prussia while the
campaign against the western allies
was yet to reach its height. Germany
was not afraid Of the western campaign
but the fact is privately confessed that
the Germans did fear the outcome of
the Slavonic rush.
Then, almost over night came the
news that the battle Of tine MaMrian
Lakes had been fought and had result.
ed in one of the greatest victories for
Germany in all history. seldom is a
nation thrilled even in war time as
Germany was thrilled by the news that
Marshal Won Hindenburg had cleared
east Prussia of the invaders. Nothing
that has happened since and nothing
tnat is likely to happen will equal in
Germany's estimation the brllance of
Won Hindenburg's success. Until IN,
| Ma2urian battle, Germany was not sure
of herself. Won Hndenhurg gave con
fidcnce to Lis country and demonstrat.
ed so absolutely superiority over the
Russians that the fear al the Slav,
vanished as light dispels the tcrrors of
the dark. Won Hinicnhurg turned the
light on the Russians aud they are now
the chief inspiration of the contrib
. IN l. H..
Warsaw has not vet fallen, but in
stead the Germans have captured Rus
sia s great Baltic port Of Libau, whicl
is second in Importance only TO War
saw and Riga, as an eastern objective
The aBltic operations, in fact, woul,
be considered Il worthy record of th
year, warfare against Russia even i
nothing else had been accomplished OF
that side of Europe. But. iu fact, IN,
Baltic campaign ranks last In import
! ance among the three great offensive
which the Germans have successfully
developed against the Slnvs since las
} August
, The first of this is the advance
across western Poland TO the gates o
Warsaw. Germany believes this driy
alone, coming after the earlier rctrca
from Warsaw is greater success.
) judged purely as a military problem
than all the victories that the allie
can claim
Second in importance among sue
cesses against the Slavs is the frecinl
of Galicia This campaign is ranked il
Germany as an offensive one, diffcrnl
from the rescue Of east Prussia, whicl
, was defensive thrust. The Galiciat
province was Germany territory bu
: had passed almost entirely under Rus
sian control wnou the Germans under
took TO rescue h FOR Austro Hungary
, The offensive campaign developed b,
Marshal Won NHrkensen during the las
three months Is especially praised b,
German critics because the Says ha,
." long time 10 prepare thir lefcnccs
, When the GalIrIan operations began !
was becoming the general conclusion o
militndu students that properly en-
trepchcd army ronld not be- driven bncl
for any considerable distance. TIN
Germans. however showed that il coul,
be done
Tho winning Of Galicia has bmu,
/ Austro oHuulary closer 10 tnc Gcrmai
empire. and ha. bnHishcd an hop