University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-08-01
As SEEN IN GERMANY
nv Carl w. Alderman

and shamed the English. From the
outset of the var the Germans devel-
oped an initiative that gave them a
superiority yer their enemies, and
since then, no effort of the French
and British commanders, has been
equal to the task of overpowerhg the
numerically weaker Teutons.
Only once has Germany been SUI
perior in numbers to its western op-
moments, according to Teutonic au-
thorities. That was during the rush
through Belgium n to Paris. The
superiority at that time was due to the
slow mobilization of the French and
the breakdown of the English plans
for hurrying a large army to the con-
tinent. From the days of the Battle
of the Marine, the Germans have had
TO fight with weaker forces than their
enemies, and yet never have they been
overwhelmed.
The Germans taught the French
and English the secrets of defensive
e%ntrenching; the Germans revealed
the superiority of siege guns over the
strongest fortresses; the Germans
first discovered the modern necessity
for high powered shells and machine
guns. All these factors of warfare
we're introduced by the Germans in
the west. The Germans have kept
ahead of their antagonists as new
problem after new problem has come
to the front, and the years balance is.
therefore, greatly in their favor.
Only once did the German military
machine miscalculate. That was in
the battle before the gates Of Paris.
General Won Kluck was not informed
that a field army had been hidden
ava in Paris, prepared to strike at
his flank, and the German general
staff did not suppose the French
army had in General Foch a great
military leader capable of splitting
the Teutonic center east of Paris and
driving it back to the Aisne. General
Won Moltke, who was a sick man
throughout the summer campaign. vas
later replaced as chief of the general
staff by General Won ~Falkenhayn, and
since then, Germany has been we'll
satisfied with the progress of events
in the west.
Retreat From Paris Brilliant.
The retreat from Paris will go down
in German history as a brilliant feat
of arms because of the manner in
which it was checked at the Aisne.
So puzzled were the Allies by the
German maneuvers that Sir John
French actually reported in the early
days of the Battle of the Aisne that it
probably was only a rearguard action
on the part of the Germans. How the
kaisers painting troops, almost ex-
hausted after the Marine fighting, were
able to save themselves at the Aisne,
will find a permanent place in the
heroic tales which this war will give
to history.
In the conflicts hat followed the Bat
tie of the Aisne, the Germans COM
pletely out Unanswered their antago-
nists. 1t is customary in England to
say the Germans are defeated because
they didn't get to Dunkirk and Calais.
If those two towns had been captured,
the English would now be proclaimed
victories for themselves, say the Ger
mans, because Dieppe and Havre were
saved from the Kaiser's grasp. AS a
matter of fact, while the capture of
Dunkirk and Calais would have been
welcomed by the Germans, the security
of those seaports is not a strategic de-
feat for the Germans. By retaining
Antwerp and Ostend, the pressure
which Germany can bring to bear on
England in the peace conference after
the war will be sufficient for Ger
many's purposes.
The French and English were able
to save Dunkirk and Calais, but their
offensive plans were sadly overturned
by the Germans. When General Joffre
started northward after the Battle of
the Aisne, it was his intention to out
flank the Germans, or failing that, to
save western Belgium and to prevent
the fall of Antwerp. Sir John French's
transfer of the British expenditionary
force from scissors to Ypres was for
the express purpose Of preventing the
Germans advancing beyond Brussels.
The Germans won the campaign, for
although they didn't reach Dunkirk
and Calais, they captured Antwerp and
Ostend and held the British in COM
plete check. The story has yet to be
told of how the British troops were
defeated at La Bassee, and how the
British government lied to its people