A GERMAN IDOL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 185, 15 April 1915, Page 8

A GERMAN IDOL.

Von Hindenburg, or, to givjs him his full name and title, Paul von Beneekendorff und von Hindenburg; Generaloberet, Commander-in-Chief of the Ge-r----man forces in East Prussia, is onjd of the most pcpixl&v' military leaders. ( the nation has titer fcndwn (writes. ... v Mr.. Norman Drapev, in an American pa-,, per.) Me'h- the idol of all .Germany. And, injkjsd, why should he-not be? He was at the : batt*ar of Koniggrat?;, and ; took part irTthe; lotte and Sewian; als-weli as-the siege Of Paris, and the heroic: he Bourget - It was during this last named' action that be won the Iron Cross:" Hid foresight w&h.ipgard to the' region Where he recently inflicted a great defeat on the Russians was most remarkableY Almost on tbfr boundary between Russia and there 14 3: the'Mazurian Lakes, the largest b-?irig about' th e s-ize of' Lakp George, For years tlie3e lake 3 been the. subject; 'of"'''debates amOig 'the military men'- of Germany. • ■ •'Thie' .ytfunger j ge.n&r' ration of officers cchtenfjed that it Iwould'' bo ah' to ..defend Itinera should the 'Rnssia&B' over-try to cross the "border. at tf.-.i iiead of tbo ; 6!der military men, said ''that not c*ly.;cp.uld •he lakes be defended,■ but that.they jfi'ers* cf : immense ''ttrategic*,!: :iiapcr> iice, s*d th:;' would. the Rusi.i.ihs. ■ ■;■■ ■ ... . "These lakes," he suidy "are-cS.mo.ro military vaJue then a-wall 200 ft high." And to make sure that offi-cera and mm und)*r him became familiar with the lakes and the region surrounding them he would lead them through the. water and the marshes adJaeent for' days at a timje. ':'■ '■ lit the two yexirs that, preceded this war Von HihdenbuTg's• .sote-ractiyity ceiWhsted in working on the problem for the deferwre cf tbfe border at these lake's-. ' •-: • .-..'■■■ nosed 'that the lakes be .filled .up and the f^iWme4^g^jhd"bßn&i^en;:©v;% to i.^.'liivhg*.' ;: Vo'n' Hindenburg. hear»j{ of the prcposltkvn, and being out ef the '•.a pita-'., ho caught the first train, he f'ould for,,nerliny With ..his b.iindie of maps, h?i hastened to thj6 Kaiser. He talke<rioke<* strategy and defenoe for V solid hatf-hour. Then the Kaiser stopped him. "For heav'sh's sake. k*»p vrur la 1 raid he to Von K'ndenI K-iivxr' "'"*'■ Twwuise you they shall not •be' filled in A • ; ■ -