The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-19
PEOPLES FORUM
Scoring Enemies.

Editor Virsinian:
Sir.-ls it any evidence Of great military
sagacity for soldier to scorn enemy, q,
belitte his powers? a telegram from Berlin.
dated 18th OF April gives an interview with
Field Marshal H!ndenburg comma nding
the German army the eastern frontier, by
an Italian correspondent. Cabasino Renda in
which the German general scorns the British
army and calls them "a uniformed crowd Of
Officers and non-cornmissioned officers lack
ing military cohesion" He then beltties the
Russians and declares near the close of his in
tcTvlew that the Russians are beginning to get
exhausted and their war materials are dim.n,
ishing: that it is clear that the cannot
last long"
inns distinguished military commander like
nearly all the Germans IS great braggart. He
brags much about the cohesion OF his army
by contrasting it with the crowd" of English.
This thing OF comparing army with another
from a commanding officer. looks rather strange
tc say the least. The man who brags upon
his powess had better be careful: funny things
have happened before just along these lines, Is
there any record that Hannible Caesar. Napo-
leon, Wellington, Lee, Grant, Jackson or Han
cock ever INDUCED in any kind Of boasting
fcorning an enemy? General John Pope, OF the
Federal army in 1868, just before the Second
Battle OF Manassas. got Off some high swelling
words about what he intended doing and rather
disparaged the poor worn-our Confederate
army. But Lee and Stonewall certainly "got MS
goat" before he could get back to Washington.
Goiiah, Of Gath, did a lot OF loud talking and
heavy Dragging. at the same time he belittled
the young shepherd boy who had come out to
meet him On that occasion a large gas-hag
was punctured by a stone from the shepherds
sling. The English may not be saying very much
just now: General French and his French ally.
General Joffre may not be brilliant and
roisy as Hindenburg but they may get his
goat before very long. IL he does not look out.
The Germans have not vet made any head
way against the British in Belgium and the
time may be near at hand for the British to
move solidly against the Germans, and when
they do, there will be installing the fact
that Won Hindenburg and his associates will have
quite enough to keep them busy. The English
know that there will be a great loss of life on
their side In this contemplated movement. but
they will destroy many Germans too; and there
does not seem to be any very decided opinion
against the success Of the Allies in breaking
through the German lines. When the English,
French and Belgians get over into the German
territory and begin to pay back for the cruel
and unprovoked treatment of the Belgians by
the Germans we will surely hear some bowling
from the latter,
Won Hndenburg declares that rumors never
decided battles. His opinion Is certainly con-
trary to the experiences of the South during
cur Civil War No. when the British. French
ard Belgians get to fighting in few weeks.
Just like the Russians doing, the war
will not last long, General Htndenburg.
Germany will put her thinking cap then, a
thing she has neglected doing for long time,
X Y. T.
Covington, Va. April Is, 1915.