South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-11-04

to take It, but they intended to make
no effort in the east beyond merely
holding the line as at present formed.
Winter campaigning in Russia holds
no attractions either TO soldiers or TO
their commanders. The plan was 10
leave just enough men on the Rus
sian front to wage a defensive war,
releasing tens of thousands for the
more attractive southern expedition.
The Journalist wanted TO know how
Germany could get through to Con-
stantinople. Immediately the war Of
fee chief obliged him with a detailed
explanation.
1t seemed nothing could be simpler.
Everything in a diplomatic sense had
long since been arranged. Roumania
would pursue a strict policy of hands
off" Bulgaria would give active arm
ed assistance.
1t mattered not at al what Greece
might do, as the 40 miles of Serbian
territory separating the German and
the Austrian forces from Bulgaria
could be easily traversed with Bull
garia cooperating against the Serbs
from the rear.
Will Invade Egypt.
AS for the developments to follow
the joining of the central powers with
Turkey, anyone at ali cOnversant with
the facts of the near east must be able
to see. My friend was told there was
really nothing worth mentioning to
prevent successful incursiOns into
Egypt and India, once ConstantinOple
had become the base of operations.
MisinfOrmed critics still smiled in
their sleeves at the construction of
strategical railways in Asiatic Turkey
thinking only how little use they
would be to Turkey alone. But these
railways begun more than year ago,
had not been built for Turkish troops
solely They had been constructed to
carry picked veterans of the German
and Austrian armies 20 attacks on in
adequately defended frontiers Of
Great Britain possessions.
This conversation occurred in the
war office in Berlin approximately two
months ago-at time when English
statesmen and English folk generally
were discussing what might be the
next move of the Germans At that
time the man in the street in Germany
was indulging in no wondering on the
subject. He knew. AS matter of fact,
the German policy seems TO be to let
the people knOw-even more about
what is to happen than what some
times has happened.
In any event according TO my
friend. the journalist, what he learned
officially at the war Office was really
nothing more newsy than anything
which has become common talk.
Kept News To- Himself.
Almost Immediately after my jour
nalist friend obtained this interview
he left Germany and came to London
his first visit TO England. When
he arrived at TilbVry he was subjected
TO the usual rigorous examination by
British army officials. Whatever may
have been his intentions prior TO the
time Of landing as far as imparting
any information to the British authOrl-
ties concerned, the uncom promising
hostility on the part of the authorities
at Tilbury decided him TO keep his
own counsel.
After a week of making the rounds
of government offices at Whitehall he
felt he had less reason than ever to
even try TO tell responsible officials
any part Of what he knew. The prin-
cipal reason, as he explained to me,
was that thus far he had been unable
TO see any responsible officials at the
treasury, admiralty, war or foreign
office Everywhere he went-always
equipped with unquestionable creden-
tials-he was received always by
clerks. or. at best, by some under
I secretary's secretary. Thus it hap
pened that the man who might have
| forewarned Britains in early Septem-
Der Of what they discovered almost
/ six weeks later. he confined TO himself.
Y imparting his confidence TO a few OF
l \ g.,