The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-10-19
GREAT TRIUMvIRATE NOW RULES
The KAISERS MILITARY MACHINE
Into the Hands of Won ndenbg Won ackensen and Ludendo
Masters of War Proved in the Awful Fire of the Last TWO
Years. the German Emperor Has Committed the Con-
duct of the War-Anecdoes of the Three Chiefs.

Rerl.n. - Hindenburg, Mackensen,
Ludeadorff-these are the names TO
conjure with in Germany today. Into
the hands of three masters OF war,
tried in the awful fire of the last two
wears. the kaiser has committed the
greatest military machine in the world
and all lesser chieftains now DOW
down before them.
There comes a time in titanic strug-
giles when dictators become impera-
tive. Great leaders give way to the
greatest. A Grant or Napoleon of in
exorable will curbs the mighty and
fuses all the vast forces Of a nation
into united effort.
That Is Germany's situation today.
Encircled by the '1rOn band" Of enc
mics the kaiser has sacrificed even the
astute Won Falkenhayn, who himself
succeeded the clever Won Moltke in the
early days of the war and for two
years had been head of the great gen
eral staff. Now he In turn must yield
place to.a more splendid genius, Hin
denburg.
Hindenburg is the great rock on
which the formidable armies OF Ger
many and her allies center. Luden-
dorff is his "alter ego," his second self,
his understudy, who stands by his side
watching with eagle eye ready to polish
and round off his chiefs plans.
Mackensen is the thunderbOlt, the
master of offensives, the mail-clad fist
with which Hindenburg strikes. He is
now In charge of the desperate situa-
ton around ROumania, where he is at
tempting to shock Germany's latest en-
envy by such q smashing blow from
the south that the ROumanian attacks
on other sides will weaken.
German soldiers often call Macken-
sen "the Archangel Michael with
flaming sword" Teuton officers taken
prisoner in Russia recently told "Pe-
troff," the famous war correspondent
Of the Russkoe SlovO, how he made
score of Austrian generals cover be-
fore him and how he burned message
from the kaiser.
Petroff describes two war councils
held by Mackensen this summer. The
first took place at Kovel, 10 Austrian
generals of high rank being present.
Eat the opening Of the sitting" says
Petroff, prince Leopold Of Bavaria,
especially sent by the kaiser, handed
to Won Mackensen q letter from the
kaiser. Won Mackensen rose to his
feet and began to read the important
document. Prince Leopold also stood
up. Won Mackensen read in silence,
becoming pensive, often frowning. 1t
was evident that the letter contained
numerous questions, and that Prince
Leopold knew their order and char
acter. While Won Mackensen was
reading Prince Leopold was actually,
as it were, counting every expression
on the face of the Carpathian ar
changed. AS he read, Won Mackensen
sometimes paused to think over the
question dealt with in the letter, re-
plying with determination and reso-
luton, Yes At other moments he
uttered a resolute NO Prince Leo
pold marked these down.
No Answer to Kaiser.
fHaving finished reading, Won Mack
ensen again became pensive, closed
his eyes, and shook his head. Then
he rolled the letter up and lighted
it at a gas burner used for the pur-