True Stories of the Great War, Volume 5 (of 6): Tales of Adventure--Heroic Deeds--Exploits Told by the Soldiers, Officers, Nurses, Diplomats, Eye Witnesses
History
True Stories of the Great War, Volume 5 (of 6): Tales of Adventure--Heroic Deeds--Exploits Told by the Soldiers, Officers, Nurses, Diplomats, Eye Witnesses
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
"The French are better soldiers. They are better schooled and drilled.
They have been at it longer and they are enormously brave and
sacrificing. But the British are proving their worth, too. They are
all of them warlike and like to fight, but they don't know how as yet.
You can't make a soldier in a few weeks or months; it takes time and
patience.
"The French artillery is exceptional. The French artillery officers
have always been of high repute. They are teaching much to the English
and Russians, and these forces are showing a corresponding betterment.
"Because of their greater experience, I should say the French are
better officered than the English. The Russian officers are a poor lot.
There is no sympathy between them and their men. The men are brave
enough, but are sheep-like in their lack of intelligence...."
In September, I stood in the general's field headquarters and watched
the big guns drop shells all around the famous "windmill of Pozières"
on the high ridge which had been taken by the British and was being
used by their artillery observers, who gamely held on, although the
position was anything but comfortable.
While we watched the bombardment a squadron of English fliers passed
overhead. I ducked and made for the bomb-proof.
"Don't worry," said the general, "the fliers rarely bomb us. Our
aviators generally leave their generals' headquarters alone, and they
usually do the same by us. It is a sort of understood courtesy."...
While I stood in his observation-point with Wenninger an iron-gray
quartermaster sergeant passed. He had been in the east against the
Russians as well as in the west. In reply to my question as to his
opinion of the schools of fighting, he answered:
"I'd rather face twenty infantry attacks from the Russians than bring
up food to the first lines here (British). Their damned artillery makes
it hell."
V--"AT THE SOMME, I MET VON PAPEN"
At the Somme I met Captain von Papen, the former German military
attaché, who was sent home by America. After six weeks on the firing
line he was made chief of staff to General Count Schweinitz, commanding
the Fourth Guard Division and holding the Grevillers-Warlencourt-Ligny
line. He has proved himself an efficient officer.
Captain Boy-Ed, the naval attaché, who was sent back to Germany at
the same time, is now chief intelligence officer at the admiralty
in Berlin. He is very bitter toward America, while von Papen is
friendly. Dr. Dernburg, the other propagandist who was returned to the
fatherland, is philosophical as regards his work in America, and is
without rancour over his treatment. He is living in Berlin, working
on housing plans for the poor, but he has lost the confidence of his
Government....
All the world knows Hindenburg. Germany's Iron Man, the hero of the
Masurian Swamps, a colossal wooden statue of whom stands opposite the
Reichstag in the Sieges-allee, the Avenue of Victory, in Berlin's
Tiergarten. But who is Ludendorff?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account