The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-01-07
GERMANY WELL
PREPARED FOR WAR
By William Philip simms

4
With the French Army at the Front,
Just how thoroughly the Germans were
prepared for this war does not really
sink in on one until one eriss- crosses
the war zone. The stories one hears of
their preparations are amazing and if
a tenth of them are true one cannot
be surprised at the rapidity of their
invasion at the beginning of the war.
French army officers were dumfound-
ed, for instance, at the rapid crossing
of the Marshes of Saint Gond, north
east 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 NORM. The
marshes resemble from a distance
beautiful meadow, hut even the ma
tives of the region do not dare ven-
ture in the tall grass for fear of be-
ing swallowed up in the ooze. Perhaps
half dozen guides know the swamp's
intricacies and these make living
leading hunting parties through them.
For an unguided person to attempt to
cross the marshes would be as much
as his life is worth.
Nevertheless the German troops
crossed the marshes without the
slightest trouble or delay They did
not even hesitate. The native guides
were all well known and accounted
for; they did not lead the German sol
diers over. How did they escape the
bogeP
Well, here's story told me by
civil officer of the district. He had
had part in the deal and he ought
to know. About three years ago
company was formed in Germany for
the purpose of buying up and reclaim
ing swampland. The first land this
company set its heart upon was the
marshes of st. Gond. These lands be-
long to the Commune, or County-or
rather to several counties-and the Of
ficers representing the Communes were
asked to get together for a deal with
the Germans. The German company
proposed to drain the swamp and turn
the land into the richest of farms,
which farms would be sold off in lots
to French farmers.
How much would the company give
for the swampsY The company would
make an offer as soon as the proper
estimate of the cost of drainage could
be made out
A score of German engineers there
fore began work in the marshes. Ev-
cry rod of the district was explored,
sounded and charted; every island and
tree and hummock duly mapped; every
road, bride path and pigtrail indicat-
ed, and every possible detail set down.
Then the German company made its
off r. n z1<.s1c c1x
small The Commune officials laughed
at the offer and the deal fell through
and forgotten-until along toward the
close of last August when the German
army advanced across the Marshes of
Saint Gond without losing a man.
Another story 1 heard from another
source was that some years ago Ger
man bought country home for him.
self near Paris. Upon a commanding
ridge stood his house and upon the
house was pointed spire. To the
right and left of the house he planted
a single line of fir trees, with graceful,
peaked tops, and, down the slopes q
few hundred yards, a tennis court in
cement and asphalt was laid.
The German seemingly took a sud
den dislike to his country house about
the time he had fnihed improving it,
for he went back to Germany and did
not show up again--until war was de-
clared
Then he was wearing uniform, the
uniform of a German officer of artil-
lery.
The tennis court was nothing more
than foundation for heavy guns; the
country house, with its pointed turret
was the center of sighting system,
Of which the fir trees to right and left
were adjuncts (notchesD. The story
las it that had the Germans advanced
to this point they could have planted
their heavy artillery on the tennis
used the turret and
fir trees to sight by and dominate ev-