The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-21


Russians in this same territory. Thi,
time, however, the lakes were frozer
solid. Hindenburs could not drive the
fleeing Russians into the swamps and
morasses as he did on two previous &C.
casions. But he fell on them from the
north and he fell them from the south
and when the two armies met, hardly
tenth of the Russians had been able to
squeeze through the two approaching
arms. And those that escaped, left be-
hind them all their equipment. supplies
and artillery.
At Tannenburg. the first decisive vic
tory of the war. it was much the same.
Hindenburg trapped the Russians among
the lakes and sixty thousand surren-
dered. After the battle OF Tannenburg,
soon after the outbreak of the war, Ber-
lin and all Germany ceased to smile at
the mention Of "Hindenburg of the
Lakes" "Swampy Hindenburg," as he
was called.
For years and years Hndenburg had
pestered the kaiser, the general staff and
the Reichstag with his incessant confer
ences about the lakes. He was a per-
petual visitor at all the war Offices
Everywhere he went he carried under his
arms large portfolios containing maps
and drawings of the Mazurian district
His talk was all of lakes. lakes. lakes.
ne COuiu SHOW any twenty ways III
which The bear that walks like a man.
could be made to stand on his head any
where in the lakes district. Water on
the BRAIN" or the German equivalent,
was a term frequently mentioned In con-
nection with Hindenburg.
AS lecturer in the war academy, he
had the walls hidden under maps of the
lakes. His pupils. the young officers,
knew we'll the old mans obsession, and
cod 70 aric
Of him. they had but to mention the
insuperable instructions to military ac-
lions among the lakes. Then linden
burg would roar so that he was heard
block away, and the men In the other
colleges would remark that the bear was
being stood on his head again.
Once, Just a few years ago. after Hin
denburg's forced retirement, the Reichstag
had under consideration a plan to fill
ND the Mazurian lakes for agricultural
reasons Hindenburg came out of Han
over like a shot and stormed Berlin.
Huge bodies Of maps under his arms, he
buttonholed every member of the gener-
nj staff and every member OF the Reich
stag. In vain he expounded, in vain
he argued and explained that the lakes
we're a natural barrier between Russia
and Berlin. 1t seemed he would lose
his cause. Then, though he was in dis
grace
obtained an audience with him.
The conference lasted long time.
Hindenburg went into 1t fairly buried
under the load Of maps he was carrying.
rJe came out of it with a grin on his
vide characterful mouth nearly broad
enough to engulf his ears. He told him
self how at first the kaiser did not care
To listen, but he went on talking; how
the kaiser listened and Hindenburg
snread his maps; how he said the great
agricultural value of the region should
he considered and how Hindenburg per-
sisted Il would be of more value to bag
he Russians in those lakes II they ever
ried to invade Germany, and. without
waiting for the royal consent. poured
,ut the result Of his ceaseless cogitations
nd planning, the results Of his countless
naneuvers until at last the kaiser's eyes
,egan to twinkle and he raised his hand
md said:
Enough, enough. Won Hindenburg!
FOR heavens sake. keep your lakes. They
re yours. Nobody shall disturb them.
So when, a few days after the out
freak Of the war, the Russian hordes be-
IAN to roll across the border into East
russia "on the way to Berlin" 1t was
ron Hindenburg the kaiser thought OF.
Id Hindenburg, who knew every foot
4 the ground, every bog and quagmire.
name was not even on the
LIST Of retired generals the general staff
ad drawn up for use in case Of emer-
ency. But the kaiser sent for him.
Out Of Hanover in a special car, with
glittering staff about him. back into
ctive service and in supreme command
ode Won Hindenburg. frank and boyish