The Washington times., 1915-07-29
AS SEEN IN GERMANY
BY CARL w. ACKERMAN.

BERLIN. July 29.-In the western
campaign Germany met new condi-
tiohs Of modern warfare and over
came them before the enemies were
able to do so In the eastern war
area old conditions Of fightins have
prevailed throughout the twelve
months. and Germany again has
shown that she IL as skillful with
the old as with the new.
The more valuable territory which
has fallen to German arms In this
war Is Belgium and northern France.
These conquered districts are far
more wealthy than are the captured
Polish and Baltic areas. Yet. with
out doubt. the chief glories Of the
German armies have been won in
the east. Germany Is proud Of the
years magnificent record In the
west. but II IL the march OF events
In the east that thrills the German
people to their very souls. In
popular imagination. the might OF
the Russian empire was the most
disquieting fact Of the war.
This belief was encouraged by
the general feeling that II Germany
war. France must be overwhelmed
before Russia's mighty millions
could be mobilized. 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 trembled last
summer as Russia's hordes 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 the Mazurian
Lakes had been fought and had re-
suited In one Of the greatest victories
for Germany In all history. Seldom
is nation thrilled even in wartime
as Germany was thrilled by the news
that Marshal Won Hindenbufk had
cleared East Prussia Of the invaders.
Nothing that has happened since
and nothing that is likely to happen
Will equal in GerInany's estimation>
the briihance or Won Hindenburg's
success. Until the Mazurian battle.
Germany was not sure of herself.
Won Hindenhurg gave confidence to
his country and demonstrated SO
absolute superiority over the Rus
slams that the fear of the Siavs van
ished as light dispeis the terrors OF
the dark. Won Hindenburg turnen
the light on the Russians and they
are now the chief Inspiration OF the
contributors to Germany's humorous
weeklies.
Warsaw has not yet fallen. but in
stead the Germans have captured
Russia's great Baltic port OF Libau.
which Is second in Importance only
to Warsaw and Riga, as an eastern
objective. The Baltic operations. in
fact. would be considered a worthy
record OF the years warfare against
Russia even II nothing else had been
accomplished on that side OF Europe.
But. in fact the Baltic campaign
ranks last in Importance among the
three great ofrensives which the
Germans have successfully developed
against the Slavs since last August
The first of this Is the advance
across western Poland to the gates
drive alone. coming after the earlier
retreat from Warsaw, IL greater
success. Judged purely as a military
problem. .-an all the victories that
the allies can claim.
Second In importance among sue
cesses against the Slavs is the free
ing of Galicia. This campaign is
ranked in Germany as an offensive
one, differing from the rescue Of
East Prussia. which was defensive
thrust. The Galician province was
German territory but had passed al
most entirely under Russian control
when the Germans undertook to
rescue 1t for rAustro-Hungary. The
offensive campaign developed by
Marshal Won MackensAl during the
In hC In fol l1x- oiaa
by German critics. because the Slavs
had 90 long a time to prepare their
defenses. When the Galician opera
tions began It was becoming the gen.
eral conclusion OF miiitarist students
that a properly entrenched army
could not be driven back for any
considerable distance. The Germans,
however. showed that 1t could be
done.
The winning of Galieia has bound
man empire. and has banished all
hope among the allies OF enticing
Vienna or Budapest into making a
separate peace, Fully as important
too. the Galician campaign has been
the eliminating influence which is
preventing the neutral Balkan coun-
tries from entering the war. The
diplomatic work of maintaining the
neutrality of Roumania, Bulgaria and
Greece has caused many sleepless
nights at the German foreign office
in the past months.
Perhaps when the historians begin
to write about the eveHts OF the past
year. they will rank above every
thing else in importance the In
fiuence which Germany's mighty vic
tories in the east has had on the
Balkan states. II the three south
eastern neutrals had Joined the
allies. earlier In the war, when Rus
sia's strength was at its full, Ger
many doesn't like to think about the
possible consequences