New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-20
KJTCHENER'S NEW ARMY?
EASY. SAYS FALKENHAYN
ackino Necessary Officers German General Asserts 1t
Is Not Worthy Name Army-its Landing IN bel
GUM To Be Wccomed-Deea Assured

General Field Headquarters Of the
German Armies in France. Jan. rs via
London. Jan l9) "More Of such Of
fcnsivc" referring 20 the offensive op-
cratiors IN the campaign Of the Allies
dcsn ONLY he welcome 60 us.
The British are good fighters. bat
an army without tho necessary officers
and uon-commissioned officers is
scarcely an army
I'VE are fully prepared for any at
tempt AZ a landing in Belgium the
sooner .t comes the better
These gro some OF the phrases. full
Of quiet optimism. OF Lieutenant Cen
eral Erich Won Falkeuhayn, the Ger
man Minister Of War and Chief Of
staff Of German armies in the field,
VINO granted to-day the first interview
given by him 20 any spondcut.
The general talked frankly OF the mlli-
.ary situation and the prospects Of the
war. which he evidently does not OK
pcct viii be a short one.
General Won Falkenhayn is tho man
responsible. under the Emperor. for
the strategy in the great world war.
He is q comparatively young man. as
commanders so the youngest Of any
Of the leaders of the European armies
with tremendous capacity for the
hard. concentrated work necessary Tor
the control OF the great apparatus OF
the German armies. He is AZ his desk
in the old French government building
which houses the German General stan
from dawn until late at night, and an
unbroken stream of officers, with re-
rorts and plans calling for his De
cision. flows m and out Of the little
square conference room. with its table
loaded with mans, all day long.
Hand Always on Throttle.
He performs the dual functions Of
Minister Of War and chief of the cen
eral staff. and has little time for eN-
crcise or recreation He sleeps At
leadouarters. with his hand on the
throttle OF the big machine, and yet
his slender figure i as erect, ms man
rcr almost as elastic and vigorous as
tho dav when he flashed into public
notice with his memorable defence OF
the German amy in the Labern de-
bates I'm the ReichstaG.
This war Is not a war OF agrees
sion" said General Won Falkenhayn,
taking up the causes OF the war; mot
4 war brought about by military
caste or military party in Germany
but one Of self-defence. As q soldler
| cannot. Of course. talk on the pohu-
cal ASPECTS or the causes of the wal
but can speak from military stano
point. II was forced upon US by me
Russian mobilization. IN the lace OF
which VIC could do nothing else nut
arm ourselves. Russia had been ad-
yised and warned by his majesty ana
through our ambassador that " she
modified We must m selt-de1ence OF
der "a general mobilization and take the
steps necessary 10 protect our national
existence. Russia nevertheless went
ahead with its mobilization, while CON
fnuinc Diplomatic negotiations.
"If man comes into your room Tor
q discussion with gun drawn YOU can
scarcely be expected 70 wait for HIM 70
cock and level IL AT you before reacn-
ing for your own 20 defend your ne.
Our present situation is excellent. We
have no cause 10 complain. We nave
carried the war into the enemy.s coun-
try on both fronts: We are stu there
after five months OF war. our present
lines are very strong The advantage
is all on our side thus far.
Advance on Paris admirable.
"If our first advance against Paris,
said the general m response 20 Huts
ton. had succeeded fully and IN all
respects. 1T would have been reckoned
as most brilliant achievement. As n
stands. II is en- admirable one. ! can
say so freely. because I had nothing to
do with the conception Of the plan OF
campaign. But one cannot expect 10
carry on war without SO checks. and
when we fell back We swung over TO
the present line Of action, IN which We
have been thoroughly successful
at is wrong 70 interpret the opera
tions i'm Flanders As an attempt on our
part 10 reach Calais and outtiahh the
allied armies. On the contrary. that
phase Of the campaign is the result OF
an attempt on the TART OF the French
and British TO force their way north
10 separate US from the sea and en-
velop our right flank and rear. relieve
Antwerp and obhge us 20 retire from
Belgium. Their plan was the failure,
our counter stroke the success, OF the
operations IN Flanders. They nave not
outfanked us and we are still there,
What is your view OF the VIDE!
hcralded general offensive and Kitten
ener's new army" he was asked.
The offensive replied the German
Chief of staff. was TO begin, accord
ing to General Joffre's order. on De
cember II. So far. we have no reason