The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-03
WAR BLU|VDERS.
CAUSED BIC
LOSSES
Errors in Economic and PoIit-
ical Judgment Made Losses
In All Countries Heavier.
nv international New. service.

ny international News Service.
ABOARD UNITED STATES
STEAMSHIP HENDERSON, April
S.-Serious strategic and tactical
blunders by both allied and central
powers during the world war, be-
cause of activities of rival intelli
gence services, were revealed for
the first time in an address on
board by Capt. Luke McNamee,
chief of the Office of Naval Intslli
gence of the American navy.
These errors, economic. military,
political and psychologist, not only
resulted, in heavy loss of life. which
probably could have been prevented.
but also in great waste of money
and power, Captain McNamee de.
clared.
'son the breaking out OF the
world war in 1914" he said, sall
the great powers made serious
errors that will be paid for by
generations still to come.
These errors were due to un-
sound estimates caused by the lack
of co-ordinated information in time
Of peace. Perfect estimates and
sible, but in war victory is apt to
feWest errors.
Germans Made. Mistakes.
Take Germany, for example.
Her organization for the war was
assumed to be the last word in
human or superhuman efficiency.
Yet she failed to estimate correctly
the necessary period for Russian
mobilization, resulting in something
of panic in headquarters and the
detachment of two corps from Won
Kiuck's army marching on Paris
In order that they might hasten TO
the protection Of East Prussia,
where they were not needed Had
they remained with Won KluclS
Paris might have fallen, with what
further results we can only con-
lecture" asserted the captain.
Spies All Rounded Up.
THAT the German fleet" he con
tinued, especially the submarines,
did not interfere with the passage
of the British expeditionary force
was due to a grave blunder in the
German intelligence service. That
service was put out OF business just
at a time when it was most needed.
The arrest Of practically every Ger.
L.
day war was acknowledgements one In
all-was due to the knowledge OF the
British secret service that Karl Gus
tav Ernst, baker, living in Gale
DOMAIN road, acted as q central post
office for German espionage letters.
The examination of this one box
was all that was necessary to 10.
cate every German spy in England.
Revealed Heavy Guns.
Another great military error was
the use 3of the heavy Slkoda guns
against the Belgian forts at LIege.
Possessing this powerful surprise
weapon, capable of demolishfIig the
strongest Qualifications, Germany
permitted France to learn a lesson
from Liege that saved Verdun
From a political standpoint the
German foreign office made very
poor showing, They chose the mo.
Inei1t to declare war when the triple
entente was in perfect understand.
ing; when the best they could hope
for from Italy was neutrality, and
when the violation of the neutrality
Of Belgium would destroy the last
hope Of keeping Great Britain out
of the war.
Germans Forced Turks.
ION the other hand, Germany
forced Turkeys hand most cleverIy
by sending the battle cruiser Goeben
and the light cruiser Breslau to Con-
stantinople. A better instructed in
telligence service in England and
France would have hit upon this pro-
cedure as being at least possible and
A.