Evening star., 1944-08-27
Battlefield Where Kaiser Lost
May Again Decide World Issue
BY THOMAS A. BOYNTON.
Assnr;otad proes CT n yVritsr

Viu/ @SOH ACN
BY THOMAS A. BOYNTON.
Associated Press Stan Writer
Germany is reported preparing
for a western front stand on the
same battlefields where the Kaiser s
armies lost the last war.
The British again are in the
north, Americans and French to
the south, looking toward Germany
as Hitler's men prepare their posi-
tions along the Somme and the
Marne. Bloody River" of 1914-8.
In those years the Germans were
on the attack, in 1914 when their
armies were strongest. in 1918 in
final desperate throw to avoid
defeat.
Today, 26 years after, Allied COM
manders express doubt that the
Germans will make anything but
temporary stands in Northern
France, but the Somme, the Marine
the Moselle and the Meuse may
still have their ancient roles to play
In this new war.
German general staff informa-
ton, disclosed after the 1918 armis-
tice, revealed just why the Germans
chose a route which crossed the
Marne as they drove toward Paris
in 1914. Very similar factors are in
volved as they seek to slow their
backward movement today
Old Strategy Revealed.
From The Battles Of the Marine" +"
published in Berlin in 1916 by an
anonymous officer of the general
staff and later withdrawn, comes
this plan of Gen. Won Moltke.
THE German general staff had
resolved to hold itself on the de-
fensive between the Swiss frontier
and the Damon. Between this. i'm
portant summit Of the Vosges and
Verdun, it was deposed to pass from
.he defensive, TO the offensiyasaply
according to circumstances. for the
troops which were stationed there
had for their principal mission the
holding of the enemy.
But with the great body of the
troops at their disposal in the west,
the general staff sought to push be-
tween Thionville and AiX-La-
Chapelle, in order to penetrate into
France by Luxembourg and Bel
gium, so as to finally to extend the
right wing more and more toward
the sea.
brilliant Turning Movement"
"By means of this brilliant turn
ing movement on the right, it was
hoped that-in the great arc of the
circle which. by Brussels, Valen-
,iennes, Compiegne. Meaux. passed
to the east of PariS-it would be
possible OF throw the French armies
back beyond the Meuse, the Aisne,
the Marine, and perhaps even be-
yond the Seine. in order to out
flank them finally to the south of
Fontainebleau and thus to roll up
the whole of theI French line of
battle.
1T should have been possible, so
far as the human mind could for
see to carry out this plan by the
end of September, 1914"
Perhaps Gen. Joffre OWNED some
thing of the idea. His preliminary
operations were designed to upset
Won Moltke's plans. But apparently
he did not know the details until
the Germans attacked. Gen. Joffre
had excellent railroads at his dis
posal. The Germans had the ele-
ment Of surprise, equipment and
certain position.
The French invaded Alsace and
Lorraine, but finally fell back be-
fore German artillery.
Marine Chosen For Stand.
The British, fighting brilliantly
against odds in Belgium, retreatec
into France before Won Kluck's
army. Gen. Joffre decided to stand
on the Marne, and Won Kluck de.
cided to attack there rather thar
try for Paris.
The Prince of Bavaria opened
the offensive in the center. Vor
Kluck making a pincers move from
the west. The attack on Nancy ir
the center began September ane
carried the Germans onto the
Plateau d'Amance, where they were
checked. Won Kluck moved up t<
the Lily Chateau Thierry road. tn.
British crossed the Marine Septem.
ber 9, and moved up before Vor
Kluck. And then the "taxicat
army" moved out of Paris to meet
the threat. Clearly, Won Kluck hae
underestimated his opponents. Aftel
he had reached the area of Meaux
he threw up the sponge and with.
drew. One German wrote in hi
notebook our men are done
up like living scarecrows
The first Battle of the Marnt
had ended, but not the war.
Nov or Never" Fight.
One of Marshal Foch's outstand-
ing successes was the 1918 Battle of
the Marne, this time against the
cagy, crafty Ludendord.
Germany had suffered a great
deal and dissension had crept into
the army. 1t seemed now or
never fight" Ludendorff wrote:
IN arranging for further oper-
ations there was no time to lose"
Ludendorf brought up his forces
the night of May q near Rheims
and began bombardment. BY noon
next day the Allies had fallen back
to the Aisne. Fismes fell and the
Germans reached Chateau Thierry
and Soissons. Ludendorf again
dreamed of pushing the Allies
against the channel, and the Crown
Pr ss'nss p.,,s' Of Prussia t9nssd for q drive
yhen The Annossean 1T Dtyt6on,