Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1915-01-09
HOW GERMANY WAS
PREPARED FOR WAR
Swamp Lands Were Transformed IN
to Richest Of Farms and Trav-
cling Was Easy.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS

With the French Army at the Front.
Nov. 90. (By mail to New York;
Just how thoroughly the Germans
were prepared for this war does no:
really sink In on one until one crisis
crosses about the war zone. The stOr
:es one hears OF their preparations
are amazing and if tenth of them
are true one can not be surprised al
the rapidity of their invasion at the
beginning Of the war.
French army officers were dumb
founded, for instance, at the rapi,
crossing Of the marshes Of Saint-Gond
northeast Of Paris, by the Germans
These marshes are miles and miles
in extent, covering the lOwlands in
the region Of the source Of the Petit
MORN. The marshes resemble from
distance a beautiful meadow bu'
even the natives Of tie region do no.
dare venture in the tall grass for fear
Perhaps a half-dozen guides know
the swamp's intricacies and thes"
make living leading hunting parties
through them. For an unguided per
son to attempt to cross the marshe"
would be as much as his life IS
worth
Nevertheless the German troops
crossed the marshes without the
slightest trouble or delay. They di'
not even hesitate. The native guidec
were all we'll known and accountc'
FOR: they did not lead the German
soldiers over Ho wdid they ESCAPE
the boys?
Well. here's a story told me by
civil officer Of the district He ha
Il part in the deal and he ougf
o know. About three years ago
omnany was formed in Germany
the purpose Of buying up and reclo'
g swampland. The first land IT,
company set its heart upon was t.
Marshes Of Saint-Gond. These Ian
belong to the commune, or county
Or rather to several cOunties-and tn
officers representing the commune.
were asked to get together for dec =
with the Germans The German con-
Dany proposed to drain the swami
and turn the land into the richest o.
farms, which farms would be sold Of
in lots to French farmers
How much would the company give
for the sWamps? The company woHlC
make an offer as soon as the propc.
be made out.
A score Of German engineers there
fore began work in the marshes. Ever
rod Of the district was explored, SOUND
ed and charted; every island and tire
and hummock duly mapped; ever
road, bride path and pigtail indca.
ed, and every possible detail S"
down.
Then the German company mad
its offer. 1t was small, ridiculous''
small The commune officials laugl
tu az llS OHeC ana the zeal 70
through and forgotten-until long t,
wards the close Of last August who
the German army advanced aero"
the Marshes Of Saint-Gond witho'
losing a man
Another story I heard, from annt'
er source, was that some years o~
a German bought county home Co.
himself near Paris. Upon cor
manding ridge stood his house ar
upon the house was a pointed sp'r
To the right and left Of the how
he PLANTED single line Of fir tr"0
with graceful. peaked tops, and. dc"
the sloDes a few hundred yards.
tennis court in cement and asDh'
was laid.
Tho German seemingly took g.
den dislike to his country home alb
the time he had finished IMPROVING
Cor he went back TO Germany :"
did not show mp agatn-until war W
declared.
Then no was wearing unifor~