Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-18

The stamps come in handy"
Success has its privileges, but it
defeated. across the San with terrible
losses. The Russians were following
them up. A Russian invasion of Mo-
ravia and then Upper Silesia seemed
possible. The Austro- Hungarian army
would have to be supported if it We're
not to be annihilated.
An advance Of the Sth army across
the Narew. the operation which had
been planned at the beginning of Sep
TENDER, would now have been useless.
Help must be sent Immediately and
could not be too powerful. We We're
not able to reinforce the western
front.
In the instructions which I received
at lnsterburg on the evening of the
18th it was stated that two corps of
the Sth army were to form the south
ern army in Upper Silesia. This looked
like nothing more than a defensive
measure at any rate it would be quite
to restore the situation in
Galicia. We had not merely to hold
the enemy in check; we had to act
Accordingly, in conversation over
the telephone, l suggested, both to
general headquarters and General Won
Moltze himself, that the whole of the
Sth army should be sent to Upper
Silesia and Posen under General Won
Hindenburg, who had just been put in
command.
Insisted on Stronger Forts.
In spite of the danger that Russia
would bring up fresh forces in a fur
Their attempt to invade the unfortu-
nate province of East Prussia, only
weak forces should be left for its pro-
lection. l certainly hoped that such
an invasion was long way off. Even
during the operations arrangements
had been made to strengthen and ex-
tend the defenses of Lotzen and the
lakes.
We not only insisted that scheme
should be drawn up, but that the work
should be put in hand at once. The
Angerapp line was also to be fortified
These measures were the effect of the
altered situation. and subsequently
proved to have been thoroughly justi-
fled.
General Won Moltke promised that
my suggestion should be considered,
and gave me short account of the
sudden change in the situation on the
western front. Up to that time we
had only heard rumors of it. General
Won Moltke was deeply moved by the
state OF affairs in the west.
That was my last official CONVEX
sation with this remarkable man. He
had keen grip of military affairs.
and could handle a great plan of
campaign with extraordinary mastery
But he lacked vigor and his inclina-
tons were more pacificist than war
like. / can recall many of my inter-
views with him.
At the beginning of the war his
health had been seriously affected by
two cures at Carlsbad, which he un-
derwent within a period of few
months.
At this time the war minister, Cen
eral Won Falkenhayn. began to direct
operations.
Hindcnburg Used His Plans,
On the evening of SeDtem Der IA
took leave of General Won Hindenburg
and of my comrades. | did not find it
easy to leave the COMMUNICATIVE chief
and the staff after two victorious bat
ties.
General Won Hindenburg had al
ways agreed to my suggestions, and
gladly accepted the responsibility of
to them.
A fine sense of confidence had
grown up between us--the confidence
Of men who think alike. Among the
staff there was complete unanimitv
OF view in all military matters.
left lnsterburg on the morning of
september Is, travelling by car through
Graudenz and Thorn to Breslau. NV
destination. | knew absolutely moth
ing about my new sphere of action.
II seemed to me more limited than
my previous one but I soon found
that ! had great and important field
for my activities.
The journey to Breslau was not ex-
lctly cheerful. I went through Allen. |
stein and had dinner at the same no. |
tel in which I had lived. Life had
already resumed its old course as in !
times. of peace. | was in Graudenz
~ the afternoon and Travelled through |
wind and rain, via Bromberg to Posen. |
where ! arrived in pitch darkness and |
pent the night.
was connected in many WAYS !
With the province and town of Posen. +
Wy father. who was descended from a
amily of Pomeranian merchants. I
ived there until after the Franco I
'russian war of 1901. I myself
lad been stationed at Posen. and was !.
'lad to see it again. was there from
9O2 until 1904. as senior staff officer
# the corps command of the 5th 1
orps.
While holding this position (and L
Ilso nay previous one of senior staff
'fficer of the 9th division at Glogau) Il
had an opportunity of seeing the Il
difficulties that surround the admin II
stration of this province. I had been 4
n the district of Jarotchin and Pie
chen for manuevers.
Poland Shows "No Gratitude.
Poland has shown us no gratitude
or what we have done for her. Those Il
Who had repeatedly warned Germany Il
galnst her aspirations were quite II
light. With deep grief I see my ma
i've province faced with a period of II
much difficulty and sorrow.
ON the morning of September 16 I'll
rrived in Breslau. A telegram came Il
most Immediately, saving that gem
raj headquarters agreed to my pro-
osal of the evening of the 14th. Gen.
raj Won Hindenburg. with the bulk /
I the Sth army. was to march imme- II
lately to the support of the Austrian II
rmy in Upper Silesia. This force II
Tas to form the 9th army.
The following remained in East II
russia forming the Sth army: Is. II
avalry division, LIST army corps, list
eserve corps. 3rd reserve division, II
on der Goltz's Landwehr division, II
nyeral I.andwahr hfi ga dos the ,,air, ]