The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-20

Arminius was a German who fought
for the liberty of people against inc
InrSI powerful and warlikc empire or the
time. He won le Oddly enough. he voil
IL by employment Of the very tactics
which have gained the most marked sue
cess for the German arms in the present
war. He may almost be said 10 have
furnished the inspiration for Htndcn'
burg. For he gained his great victory
by turing the leKfous OF Rome into the
mirc of his swaInps and moraSseS anu
there Strengthening them almost 10
iman Tho great fight took place nlnC
years before the beginning of the
Christian era. 1t drove the power oil
Rome out Of Germany forever.
EercingcIorix. the great German chief
to IN. had been overcome by Julius Caesar
had been made TO march in Caesars tri-
unph and had arterward been murdered
iE his Roman dungeon. Augustus. the
>uluptouAry and profligate. was on the
throne Of Rome now largely given
over TO pleasure. Tiberius, afterward 10
be come emperor himself, had been re-
called from The command Of Germany
than held as an outpost OF Roman en-
r;rc. TO succeed him came QuintilluS
Earus. fresh from rule as the proconsul
ui Syria. lie established his headQuar-
tors near the center Of the modern coun-
try of WcSlphalia, where he not. only
gave up himself 10 the qualification or
his raraclty und RIGHTEOUSNESS. but en-
part of his soldiers. No mans life or
honor was safe. Less so was the honor
Of any woman. The Romans wallowed
In evil. The German swarm buzzed In
ind ienution. In the mind of Armintus
formed the plan. prepcstcrous as It
seemed, not only TO take vengeance upon
the oppressorS, but 10 defy the whole
Roman empire. and turn Germany back
from rassalage Of Rome 10 It's own indie
pcrdence. But for his success the Eu-
rope of today might be populated by an
entirely different race.
AS is not infreouently the case. wo-
man figured in the maelstorm. -Armin-
Jus, himself Il citizen of Rome by the
benign concession OF the Roman en-
rcror who had conquered him. clipped
with the daughter Of one ScgeStes. For
this he was denounced and prescribed.
So he took TO the forests. where he
reused and organized the wild hordeS OF
German lighting men.
Very crafty was Arminius. he walled
for the heavy rains. These coming in
due season turned the country into boys
through which II became most difficult
L. maneuver regular troops. Then ne
erected Ihc|tribeS near the Weser and
the Ems to take up arms in minor revolt
against tho Romans. This was repre-
Srntcd 10 Earus as q local diStur banLr
which required his immediate presence
on the spot. Narus fell into the trap.
Promptly he set forth. starting his army
on line parallel with the Lippe. Here.
not far from the source 0f the Ems.
where the country is rugged and heavily
wooded, with streams which arc shallow
in the dry season. but which nyerrun
their banks in the time Of the rains.
Arminius staged his terrible enterprise.
No modern Hindcnburg drew on the in
,atier with more Of guile.
EaruS was little more than IN ordI-
rary general, but he had with him a
force Of the best disciplined. most for
nidahle troops in the world. Roman To-
gicnariCs to the number Of some 1900.
supplemented by 1000 Roman cavalry
and numerous light auxiliaries. These
were commanded by sklllful officers. al
though the incompetent Narus had per-
n:tted his force to be encountered by a
rabbln Of camp followers and women
who greatly impeded the march. Into
thu dark forest entered this doomed
host.
Once clear OF tho firm. level ground
came trouble. In the marshes the cav
airy often found Itself unable TO proceed.