Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-07-28
The German Army
BY Carl w. Ackerman

Dy Sdll W. fAtAOAhi"h
(United Press staff correspondent
Berlin. July l, (By mail)-The sec
ond year of the war will be known in
Germany's military history as the year
of political strategy. The moves of
the military chessboard of Europe have
been dictated by international rela-
tions. Fighting was framed to helpl
the diplomatas.
The goal has been victory where pos
sible and to keep the allies from win
ming over neutral powers or starting
offensiyes From this standpoint the
year has been as successful as the first
wear of the war when the military
strategy was to be beat back the enc
my armies in France and Russia. The
first wear mas one of military events
for military purposes; the second year
one Of military movements for pollt-
ical purposes.
An army is not supposed to play pol
itics but in great war there is al
ways danger of other nations coming
in and the strategy of an army must
be dictated by the then national aims
of the nation. For instance, instead of
invading Servia the armies used there
might have been used against Russia.
Riga and even Moscow might have
been taken. Had this been done, the
military move would have been against
Russia only, and the effect would not
have been great outside that country.
But the armies were sent into Servia.
Bulgaria Joined the central powers and
the united offensive kept Roumania
and Greece neutral. That campaign
solved for many months the Nexing
Balkan problems.
Temptation on Roumania
The situation there since has not ma
terially changed. The allies have oc-
cupied Salonika. For months they have
had thousands of soldiers there to
feed and pay. For the central powers
this has been valuable thing because
it has further divided the attacking
power of the allies. The presence of
| the allies in Greece, however, has been
a permanent invitation to Roumania to
join hands with Russia and cut the line
of communication between Berlin and
Constantinople. If Roumania did breatA
her neutrality it might not be diff
cult thing for the allies to bridge the
Balkans between Roumania and Greece
and perhaps force the fall of Constantl'
noplpe via Adrianople.
With this possibility continually con
fronting the diplomats of Europe; with
Bucharest excited by the intrigues of the
ministers, Roumania was at times ON
the brink of declaring war. One of
these moments was last February. AT
about the same time the German CORE
spondents at the west front reported
that papers had been found indicating
/ that the French were preparing great
offensive on the west front March 10
lUherefore two birds could be downed
with one stone. If there was German
offensive on the west front the French
forces could be occupied and an often
sive from that side Of the allies could
be postponed. At the same time an i'm
preston could be made in Roumania to
! show that the German army was not at
the end of its resources.
Politics Caused Verdu Move.
Political necessity dictated the battle
of Verdun. The initial success of this
attack encouraged many people to ex-
pect the early fall of the fortress but
the French were strongly prepared to
resist and the policy of an offensive on
large scarle was changed to nib
\ bling This process has been contin
ued for three months, because in the
meantime the German correspondents
reported that. the French had shifted
the time for their offensive to May 10
Since then the German army has at
tackled Nerdun continually and kept Q
: large French reserve force on the
NJ nal
forces at any other part of the front
for an allies offensive.
During the last year the allies have
asked "But what is Germany gaining
by all her victories9 The farther sh,
invades our lands, the more she defeats
herself. AS long as we control the seas
Germany's military victories can gair
her nothing. We are sure to win be
cause we control the seas"
: This contention of the allies is wortl
: careful consideration. If Germany gain
nothing by her victories on land, tn,
war might as well stop, one might ar
que. But viewed from the. standpoin
tnat this second year of the war ha
been a year of political strategy, Ger
many's gain on land have had their di
plomatic results. Roumalia and Greco
at this writing still are neutral. Ital.
s has been administered blow in tn
Trentino at time when France AM
G England were at the height of thei
lack of interest and confidence i
, Italy's campaign and when Italy wa
! about to stimulate the public interest i
the war by celebration of the frs
year OF Italy's fighting.
Fightig for Peace Terms.
i If Germany and her allies did no
hold so much of the territory of the a
- lies would she be able to get as favor
y able terms of peace as she wills If tn
J, central powers had not attacked an
n occupied Servia, could they have mad
the bids for terms in tho Balkans the
can make nowS IL the German arm
u I'D not occupy Warsaw could the Gel
4 man chancellor state in the Reichsta
~ that Germany will not make peace unit
there are assurances that Poland wi
4 not again fall into the nands of the Run
Il sian government Every mile of Ian
gained by the central powers from tn
| allies can be checked off against th
i allies control of the seas and if Gel
/. many solves her economic problems, tn
L loss of the sea routes will not be fel
/. any more keenly than the loss Of Be
n pium 70 the King of that country or th