DEFENCE OF PRUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2272, 5 October 1914, Page 7

DEFENCE OF PRUSSIA

DISAPPOINTED. GERMAN HOPES

, THEORIES UPSET

In "Tho Journal of the Royal Artillery" for September last is a translation from the Year Book of tho German Army and Navy of an article upon "The modern significance of Von Moltke's flanking position at Thorn against a Russian offensive," which appeared in that publication in the previous June. Tho writer of the article in the Year Book assumes, in the event Df a European war, much that has actually happenod, not reckoning, however, the dropping of Italy from tho Triple Alliance. Germany, it is disclosed, was first to be concerned with the crushing of France, which was to bo accomplished before the Russian Araiy could be in a position to strike a blo\v at Germany in the east. But /this calculation has been completely shattered by Russia's .rapid mobilisation, 'ivhich leaves the Germans no nearer the subjugation of France than it was when tho war started nearly a. month' ago. Moreover, apparently much moro was expected of Austria than she has given', and Germany certainly does not seem to have reckoned upon the remarkable successes of the Servians; However, the following extracts from the • Year Book will explain tho theories that were in the mind of the writer:—

"The Balkan war has brought about a dangerous displacement of forces for Austria and for the Triple Alliance. Hitherto we could assume that in the practically- unavoidable conflict of\ the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, Austria would be able to utilise the whole of her forces against Russia, and so force the latter to concentrate her whole army_ on tho Austrian frontier. As Russia had only a small portion of her' army—at most the armies of Wilna and Warsaw — available against Gormany, we were thus in the favourable position of having'to leave only the local corps for the defence of the eastern frontier until France could bo crushed.' These political and strategical conditions have been entirely altered by tho Balkan war. The Balkan States have exhibited much unexpected military power, and by their success against have secured such a jiuge increase' in strength, as to endanger the existence of Austria in the highest v degree. v

Austria's Perplexities. "In n great European war, therefore, Austria will be obliged to employ a very considerable part of her army against her Balkan neighbours, especially against Servia, which seeks to establish a Pan-Servian Empire. Her 7,000,000 of Serbs, Croats, Slavs, and Bosnians would be wholly in sympathy with her Slavonic opponent, and ' a strong force would bo required to overawe them. . .•. Austria has neglected her duty in'not foreseeing tho necessity for increasing her forces. . . . "Russia has developed her forces' enormously for the coming conflict with the Triple Alliance. < ;.' . Germany appears to have ignored the danger,, and can place only sufficient troops on her Eastern Frontier to check the Russians temporarily ' w'hilst massing the rest of her force against France. Russia has therefore two equally weak foes to deal with, and can afford'to hold one.. in", check..whilst concentrating her main army, for "an advance either ._on Vienna or Berlin. . ""' "Which of these two centres is likely to receive the main attack? In spite!of the altered political and strategical considerations, it is even now of great importance to Russia to overthrow Austria' at the earliest opportunity, to free her Balkan Allies, and to establish once and for all her superiority in South-Eastern Europe. If she wished to pursue her own personal interests she might be induced to attack Austria first; but in the great conflict between the Alliance and the. Entente for preponderance in Europe, the. operations against Austria would be of secondary.importance, and without doubt the principal efforts of the three Allies would he directed against Germany."

The Line of Attack. The writer goes on to discuss in detail the strategical, position of Russia and Germany, and says:—"Now, however, since the Balkan War the strategical situation has entirely changed. In view of the_ great numerical superiority of the Russian Army, we can hardly ex-, pect it to make the mistake of attacking us in East or West Prussia in force, for _there a small'force could hold superior numbers, in'check on the line of the Vistula, whore they would become .useless, for further operations. We must expect that our forces in East and West Prussia, would be attacked only by the Army of Wilna, at the most supported by the Army of AVarsaw, whilst the mass of the Russian Army would endeavour to turn the fortified line of the Vistula on the South and march on Berlin. For this operation the Russians have formed an admirahto and extremely strong base on the Vistula." . ' ' ■

It is assumed that "the troops of the military districts of Wilna and. Warsaw would be in their appointed places in 12 days; the Army of Moscow would .take 20 days to concentrate at Ivangovod, and the Army of St. Petersburg 25 days to assemble at Warsaw." The writer admits that Germany is in a difficult position in having to deal with both Prance and Russia, and says that the main decision must be sought in the campaign against Prance. "We may expoct the French Army to be concentrated at their fortified base at Nancy, Toul,two days' march from' our lino of deployment, M«tz-Strasburg, and ready to take the offensive on the 14th day of mobilisation. German Resources. "The Russian Army can, however, only concentrate on the line of the Vistula at Nowo Georgievsk-AA'arsaw-Ivan-gorod, ,130 to 190 miles from our frontier, and cannot reach' this'position before the 45th day of mobilisation. Before this time the issue with prance must in all human probability have been decided, and for this wo must bo, as strong as.possible. .'. . Thero would remain for the Eastern Army only seven Corps, four Cavalry Divisions, and fivo Reserve Corps, and, in spite of the immense preponderance of the Russians, wo may hope that the energy and skill of our leaders would "neutralise the disadvantage until, in tlio event of success in the AVost, reinforcements could he sent from over the Rhino. Tho essential point for the Eastern Army is the preservation of the initiative It must dictate the course of the operations, and not allow tile enemy to do so, and, further, it must concentrate in forco against the enemy's weakest point. This point is always to be found on the dailies or in the rear, and our object must ho to fall upon this with our united force."

Brigadier Bray, of tlie Salvation Army, conducted service for the. members of the Expeditionary Force in the Wellington Harbour Hoard's U shed last evening, when there-was a largo attendance of the men. The Silver Band assisted with music. During the stay of the troops in Wellington, Simday services will bo conducted liy the Salvation Army, alternately with the Y.M.C.A. authorities.' For protection against smallpox, diphtheria, and other infections, put three drops of SANDER'S EUCALYPTI EXTRACT on loaf sugar, and allow it to tlissolve in mouth, Sander's Extract is effective, pleasant."