How Nearly ,We Won in 1914.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1921, Page 4

How Nearly ,We Won in 1914.

A GERMAN GENERAL’S AD MISSIONS.

flow very near the British troops oi Lord flaig’s corps came to breaking through the German front and gaining a decisive victor}' at the first battle of the Aisne in 1914 is revealed by Geneial von Zwe 111 in his new book on the operations of the Jth German Reserve Corps, which lie commanded. (“Maubeuge, Aisne, Verdun,” just published by Curtins, Berlin). He is unusually reasonable for a Prussian officer, though no one but a Prussian would argue that tiie violation of Belgium was justifiable because the Belgians resisted it and because Germany could by no other plan so easily attack the French. He repeats the ridiculous tale that French and Belgian troop's carried with them suits of civilian clothes into which to change. But he severely criticises the German leadership at many points and in particular for its despatch of two German corps from France on the eve of the Marne to the Russian front. flis corps early in the war besieged Maubeuge, and iie makes it clear that if that French fortress had only held out a’ few days longer there would have been no German troops to meet Haig lon the Aisne. Zwehl’s men, marching hot-foot from Maubeuge, were'only”just in time to fill the gap into which Haig was thrusting. He admits that lie had “a thoroughly worthy antagonist before him,” and says that if the British had moved as fast as the Germans did the breakthrough would have taken place. He owns that the British had to cover difficult ground, though he says nothing about their feat in crossing the Aisne, which was one of the finest achievements of the> war. The losses of his corps were heavy—--4,352 officers and men, or ‘‘about a third of its strength on entering the battle.” He complains that be was inferior in guns and men, but it is doubtful whether Haig bad more than 15,000 men engaged, and lie bad no suchheav} i artillery as the Germans employed, while his numerous field guns were alreadv feeling the shortage of shells. * 1 * * * *

Of Verdun General Zwehl gives a hi os t interesting account from the German standpoint. He thinks the battle was badly planned by the All-Highest and the High Command. He says that even if the initial attack had succeeded very little would have been gained. “Our western adversaries,” he says, “were markedly superior to us in numbers, in guns, in munitions, and material. That their troops were less brave' aiid tenacious than the Germans no serious judge and expert would maintain.”

fle thinks it would have been better to take the offensive—if tlierfe was to be an offensive —on the Somme or at Novon ; and that at Verdun there would have been more prospect of success if tht Germans had attacked on the west bank of the Meuse instead of on the east bank, as they did.