The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-10-18
cHApraa VII.

About twelve years ago I attended
the German military maneuyers at
Liegnitz, 10 Sllesla, having been In
yited by some journalistic friends Of
mine 10 accompany them ln the motor
allowed the press. The military repre-
sentntiyes OF England. France, Amer
lea and other countries were there
with the kaiser's stan 10 witness the
display OF Germany's military power.
Apparently they were very much linz
pressed. for | heard afterwards that
one Of the French officers who had
been present had written book In
which he said: with such an army,
Germany could annex France In six
m0nthsI"
happened TO mention this fact 10
the kaiser shortly afterwards and his
significant comment was:
six months | should hope so. 1t
wouldn't take that longl"
The confident belief that when tDer
Tng"--"the day"--iinally arrived, Ger.
many would crush her enemies and ac-
c0mpllsh her object within a few
months at the outside was held not
only by the kaiser but by the people
generally and their conduct when the
war broke out clearly disclosed 1t.
When Germnny's man power was
mOblized. no one la Germany believed
IL would be very long before they
would aIi be back aud every effort was
made 10 make their few weeks OF ac-
tive service as little irksome as pos
sibie, ''Liebesgaben." gifts OF love.
consisting Of clothing and food Of
every description. were forwarded to
them BY their relatives aud friends In
the most lavish manner. although, Of
course. at that time the German COM
missary was able to satisfy all the sol
dIcrs requirements.
One OF my patients told mo TINT she
had sent seventeen hundred pounds Of
aausages TO one regiment within a
week. and when | asked her why she
had been 40 generous she replied that
her chauffeur was member OF the
regiment
The extent TO witch the eountry's
resources were squandsred IN thoss
early months Is evidenced by the fact
that the soldiers had such an excess
OF limiting wooden wearing apparel
| that they used many OF the knitted ar
ticles as earpleees and covers for thelI
horses, No one had the slightest idea
that the time might come when thC
whole nation would be clothed In pa
perl
At this late day II can hardly be
necessary 20 establish how thoroughly
prepared the Germans were for thu
war but an incident which occurred In
the early days Of the conflict may moi
be out OF place 10 show the self-satls
fled and confident attitude which al
the Germans assumed.
Two officers sitting at table In al
out-of-door cafe shortly after the wal
began overheard one OF several ladies
who were passing remark: Look a
those officers sitting there drinking
Why are they not at the front fight
mgr Cae o. the officers got up and
approaching the ladies, said; "ou
work was completed months ago. W.
worked from early morning till late a
night on plans which our armies arr
ROW carrying out. II Is our time 4
rest"
The resistance that France would b.
/ able 60 put up was always very lightl
estimated. and II the Intervention o
England was az all taken into consld
GRAFTON. the comparatively small arm,
she could place In the field was re
garded as but drop In the bucket com
pared with the well.trained Germai
horde that was ready to sweep aeros
the border. How could England's 5000
men cope with Won Kluck's 100000 o
the hastily moblliEed French armies n
sist the thoroughly prepared, equippe
aud well.dlsciplined German warriors
II Is really not TO be wondered q
that the Germans firmly believed tina
they would bring the allies to theI
knees within comparatively FEY
weeks and that the eonQuering Gel
man armies would celebrate Soda
day. September 2. In Paris. What ~
tually happened Is. OF course. too we
known here TO require recital, but
know that the Germans were kept
absolute ignorance Of the maryelor
resistance the allies were able to ~
up Ia those critical days OF August an
September, 1914. aud TO this day h
ma Jorlty OF Germans have not hear
0f the battle % the Marnei
Just after the English passed the
CONSUMPTION law | was called to 81
the kaiser az the great army headQua
tiers. which az that time were at Pies
Although the war had then lasted tw
or three times as long as the German
had expected. the kaiser masked Il
. depression he must have felt by pu
ting on bold front
j How foolish for England TO sta
! CONSUMPTION new" he declared. "Sl
s thinks she can accomplish In a IL
r months what Il has taken Germany
) hundred years TO attain. Armies al
J officers cannot be developed over Nigh
{ We have never stopped preparing sin
: the days Of Frederick the Greatr
T. Eyes your majesty, but the Mort