The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915Various
History
The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915
Various
World War, 1914-1918
How great a role the motor car plays among the Germans may be gathered
from an estimate made to the writer that 40,000 cars were in use for
military purposes. Many thousands of these are private automobiles
operated by their wealthy owners as members of the Volunteer War
Automobile Corps, of which Prince Waldemar, son of the sailor Prince
Henry, is chief. Their ranks include many big business men, captains of
industry, and men of social prominence and professional eminence.
They wear a distinctive uniform, that of an infantry officer, with a
collar of very dark red, and a short, purely ornamental sword or dagger.
* * * * *
BACK TO LUXEMBURG.
LUXEMBURG, Oct. 24.--I have just returned from the German Great
Headquarters in France, the visit terminating abruptly on the fourth
day, when one of the Kaiser's secret field police woke me up at 7
o'clock in the morning and regretfully said that his instructions were
to see that I "did not oversleep" the first train out. The return
journey along one of the German main lines of communication--through
Eastern France, across a corner of Belgium and through Luxemburg--was
full of interest, and confirmed the impression gathered at the centre of
things, the Great Headquarters, that this twentieth century warfare is
in the last analysis a gigantic business proposition which the Board of
Directors (the Great General Staff) and the thirty-six department heads
are conducting with the efficiency of a great American business
corporation.
The west-bound track is a continuous procession of freight trains--fresh
consignments of raw material--men and ammunition--being rushed to the
firing line to be ground out into victories. The first shipment we pass
is an infantry battalion--first ten flatcars loaded with baggage,
ammunition, provision wagons, and field kitchens, the latter already
with fire lighted and soup cooking as the long train steams slowly
along, for the trenches are only fifty miles away, and the Germans make
a point of sending their troops into battle with full stomachs.
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