New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-28
Marshal Conrad Won
HoetZendOrf

a USTRIA has undoubtedly used up
"A moro military regulations during
the war than any other country. Several
archdukes have tried their hand at lead
ing the Austrian forces to victory, but one
after the other they were retired with
single exception; and a pretty long list OF
other generals, conspicuous in the war
bulletins of the first two years Of the war,
are now scarcely remembered by news
paper readers. Only one Austrian name
has stood forth since the beginning of
hostilities, apparently without any loss Of
prestige-that of Marsha Conrad Won
Hoetzendorf, now commander in chief on
the Italian front He was chief of the
Austrian General Staff In Vienna before
the war broke out, and even then, 1t IS
said. the German General Staff considered
him the foremost soldier OF Europe. Such
Is tie report given of him by the well
known English war correspondent, Ash
mead Bartlett, in 1.-THE Strand Magazine
The English newspaper man writes In
terestingly of an interview that he had
with Hoetzendorf two years before the
war began. He says:
@on May 8, 1912, sought an interview
With this distinguished man and found my
request granted without delay. Attached TO
the General staff was Foreign Bureau
which dealt with al such applications under
m officer who spoks English perfectly and
whose mother was, | believe, Of English ma
tionality He pressed upon me the desira-
bility Of rubbing into the Field Marshal the
extremely high opinion | had formed Of the
fighting capabilities Of the Serbian soldier
and of the skill Of his chiefs.
"Conrad Won Hoetzendorf Is q delightful,
courtly old gentleman to meet, and Is one OF
the most remarkable men in appearance
have ever seen He Is Of short stature, ex-
tremely thin, and his face resembles cross
between Won Moltke's and Henry lrvings.
He has deep-set, penetrating eyes, and his
face Is furrowed with countless lines. the
whole being surmounted by shock OF long,
wavy, dark brown hair.
"He made me describe to him In great de-
tail the recent campaign Of 1912, and asked
me innumerable pointed questions OF detail
On the equipment, fighting capacity, organi-
cation and habits of the Serbian, Turkish
and Bulgarian troops. He seemed greatly
surprised at the high praise | bestowed on
them. and made me repeat several incidents
Of the battle Of Lule Burgas, so that he
might cross-question me again He then
turned to the Serbian commanders and asked
me nv opinion Of each. He had evidently
formed high opinion of Marshal Putnik.
He then put this curious question to me:
we have always estimated that four corps
would be sufficient to look after Serbia IN
the event of war. How many do you con-
slider would be required?
"This question took me by surprise, but
replied: 4 do not think you would have any
chance Of invading the country successfully
without the employment Of at least eight
corn. with strong reserves The Serbian
army, If necessary, will not hesitate to aoan-
don Belgrade and will retire into the interior,
where communications are difficult for =
modern army. At guerilla warfare and at
lacking lines Of communication they are su-
preme, as the men can live on bread alone
and require small transport
"Thc marshal looked up, somewhat sur