Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1918-03-16
Saturday Morning, March 16, 1918.
How Germany Feels
About the Var

Why did Germany turn back at the
Marine instead of pressing on and taking
Paris? The question has been asked often
and there are many answers. The answer
of Baron Won Freytag-Loringhoven, assist
ant to the German staff, is not without IN
terest. According to the Hon. Baron, it
would have taken very little to turn the
scale so that victory might have fallen to us
and a retreat avoided; but the really de
cisive factor was that the German offensive
was no longer strong enough to break
through in the face of an enemy country
bristling with armament.
This is a naive and remarkable admis-
sion; one of the few authentic statements
that have come from within the iron ring.
1t reveals the true German military and of
fetal view after three years of war. OF
course, to the average reader of the de-
cisive events of the Great War, the reasons
for the retreat of the German armies at the
Marine, are found in the fierce and resolute
fighting powers of the French poilus; the
terrible onslaught Of the Black Watch regi-
ment, which there gained the sinister sob
riquet from the Germans themselves of
the ladies of hell; the generalship of Jof-
FIRE in picking his battle-ground the deter
mination of General Foch to advance after
he was beaten; the debouching of fresh
army from Paris itself. These were the
factors that decided the Marine and saved
France These incidents, woven into a
whole, cost Germany the only chance she
had to win the war.
Again, turning to the pages of this Ger
man baron's book, which was suppressed
by the German government, but too late,
it is found that the German military view
of the war at this time is simply one of vain
regrets and bitter disappointment over COM
ing so close and yet not quite achieving the
victory. The lesson of this war to Germany
is not a true awakening to the horror and
wrong of the war, but rather an experience
by which she may profit to win the next
time. Disappointment, but not discourage
ment. Rage eating ward, but no remorse.
Wrath that is baked, but no repentance.
A longer, stronger spring next time Listen
to this German baron pleasant prattle. 1t
sounds like the beating of spears upon brass
shields He says:
w III HOl liC SCiiCidi CAllduoeiOh Vi
Europe after the world conflagration of
certainty put the danger of new war, to
begin with, in the background, and does not
this terrible slaughter of nations point in
evitably to the necessity of disarmament to
pave the way to permanent peace In his
reply we have the whole German viewpoint
summed up: "A lasting peace is guaran-
teed only by strong ornaments
Moreover world power is inconceivable
without striving for expression of power in
the world. 8 g A long peace, such as
that which preceded the world war. had
frequently caused us to overlook the fact
that it was not the fine phrases about inter
national bliss and brotherhood uttered on
every occasion at public meetings which
preserved us from war, but the might of our
sword. And he adds this significant state
ment which the sentimentalists will do well
to remember: And it will only be by this
might that we shall be able to safeguard
our peace in the future
IF at the Marine no decisive victory fell
to our share and our strength proved insult
hcient to vanquish France, we must none
the less consider that up to the Marine we
had achieved enormous things.
Certainly it would have taken very little to
turn the scale so that the victory might
have fallen to us and retreat been avoid
ed. But the really decisive factor was that