MARNE SECRET REVEALED

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1924, Page 4

MARNE SECRET REVEALED

OFFICIAL DISPATCH. IN BERLIN. VISION OF DOO.AI. (By George* Remvick in “Daily Chronicle.”) The great and decisive battle of the Afitrino took place little more than nine and a half years ago, but only now is the German official coninmni<|ue regarding it published ! It will lx> remcnilierccl that, the battle took place on September oth. to 12th. 191-1, but not a single word was allowed to be given out about it in tiermany.

So it was that during tin* whole duration of the war. and for long alter the armistice, people in Germany know nothing whatever about that tremendous v.eek-long struggle which turned the tide of the war. Never has a whole country been so thoroughly deceived or kept r *o completely in the dark for such a long time.' Not till hooks by prominent generals, politicians, etc began to appear did the Germans learn anp thing of the battle which really decided their

late. It appears that on September 2Stb. 101-1 more than a fortnight after the battle—the German General Stair did decide to tell tlu* country something about it. and to indicate cautiously that all was not well on the Most, front.

A comimini(|UP was drawn up and telephoned to the Wolff Bureau— tuTicial news agency. But helore it could he sent to the newspapers the Government stepped in. The General Stall' was consulted; it changed its mind, ami as a eousetpience a cnnimitni<|iic was not released for publication. GKUMAX OFFICIAI.- AT LAST

Now “Vonvaerts” (the Social Demeearlie organ of lb.rfin> gives the text- for the first time of this suppressed document, which has great historic interest. It is as follow.* ‘‘.September 2Sth. evening. “After tile German Western Army had gone through Belgium, turned the North French fortresses, am! beaten the Anglo-French Army in several battles. it was necessary to slop the pursuit. As soon as it heeatue known that the French were beginning an attack, based on the fortresses ol Paris and Verdun, upon both v.ings of our pur-

suing army . . . (Here renorts from other fronts are inserted, and then the eoinntuniiiue proceeds.) “In the West, the enemy, with superior forces, succeeded at Chateau Thierry in breaking throiigl long front line. “For strategical reasons, we had to withdraw that part of our right wing which was in danger on account ol the break through and which also ran the risk of being surrounded by lories front Paris. “latter, as a result of this, the victorious advance of our centre and outleft wing had to lie slopped, and they were withdrawn. THU ART OF MISI.KADING “Our armies retreated from the line cast- of Paris. Alontmirail- Vitiy le Francois—('hamnotit. till they reached that north ol Xovon, Snis-ons — Rlieim:—Verdun.

“Our victorious jmni«’> in Lpmivli Lorraine retreated to the German frontier.

“While the French approached Al-sace-Lorraine w ith only weak forces, the French. in conjunction with the Ktiglis 1 1 . attacked the Novell—Rhoitns— Verdun front.

“Out of attacks and cnunlcr-utlai'ks a great battle developed between the Oise and the Meuse At no point has a decision been rcache*!.”

As a de.sei iption of the Battle of the Marne and the subsequent wholesale retreat, of tho (banian armies, this story -a fortnight late- must l-v admitted to lie exceedingly cautious! Then follows a very brief description of what was known to the rest of the world as the battle of the Otin p "Tile enemy, hv using a widespread railway net. attempted an attack with taperior for- e . agani't our right w ing, and tin'll .against our right Hank. “Both attacks were stopped l>\ appropriate c oiintwr measures.'’ (initial eunimiiniijiics were never models of accuracy, but those few lines must go down in history as it perfect example of caution and falsehood. FORESAW DOOM. T'h" eommimiipiv then jerks hack tn tiic blast I'rnMf, and then finirites in i haracleristie style - “The slow progress of the great frontal batik' and the continuous measures of .a strategical nature which are taking place account for the fact licit our news i- scantv. But it will confinin' to he reliable.”

Ti:c- i- 11uin ii lli*|ue has one extraordinary feature. It is signed by “(icncral von \ idglit-l! lietz." It was the l:i-t i omuimiii|Uc which lh.it general. as ‘•(ieueral (.liiarteriinisier.” signed. Ii was also I lie last, lie died u few days later of -so it was said -heart failure. There is a belief, however, that he committed suicide alter signing the r (.tti in it ti i< j ilf which even lie- like many other high (.'ermaii officials had already recognised a- denoting the loot the war fur (.'ennauy. (In the same day--September I?Stil.- - four years later. (Icncral I.udeinlorlf telegraphed lo the Borman Cabinet demanding tlm a request for an armistice .-b uild be sent oMI within lollyeight hours.