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My War Memories, 1914-1918

meagre. Sonie of the officials had forsaken their posts. The wireless apparatus rendered good service, but only the cavalry and the Anny Headquarters Staff possessed it. So I was obliged to rely raainly on motor-cars, and my practice of sending out Staff Oflicers.

The gentlemen of the Volunteer Motor Corps did magnificent work as dispatch-riders. Thcy accomplished joumeys which recalled the most daring patrol work. I needed the few airmen urgently for reconnoitring, and could not spare them for dispatch bearing. But in spite of the scanty means of communication, we always succeeded in being well informed and getting our orders through in good time. I used the telephone a good deal also, giving encouragement where it seemed advisable, and blaming in no measured terms where the success of the whole operation reąuired it. This personal intercourse with the Chiefs of Staff was useful, as it afforded opportunities for personal contact and co-operation.

We had ąuite a series of Headąuarters. Nordenburg was the first place we came to which had been in the hands of the Russians for a considerable time. The dirt there was incredible. The market was fuli of filth. The rooms were disgustingly unclean.

At Insterburg we stayed at the Dessauer Hotel, in the same ąuarters which Rennenkampf had left. The Grand Duke Nicholas is also said to have left the town at the last moment.

We had an opportunity of inspecting the Russian positions morę closely, and were all deeply thankful that we had not been obliged to storm them. We should have paid a heavy price in blood.

Many of the Russian troops behaved in an exemplary manner in East Prussia in August and September. Winę cellars and provision Stores were guarded, and Rennenkampf lcept strict discipline at Insterburg. But the war brought with it endless hardships and terrors. The Cossacks were rough and cruel. They bumed and plundered. Many inhabitants were lcilled, women were outraged, and civilians sometimes carried off. These actions were for the most part ąuite senseless, and one

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Tannenberg

sought in vain for any reason for them. The people had not offered the slightest opposition to the Russians ; they were docile and had not taken part in the fighting, in accordance with our wishes. The Russians alone must bear the responsibihty for their misdeeds.

The Russian Army had been a heavy burden on East Prussia. Now we proudly felt that we had reseued German soil from the enemy. The joy and gratitude of the people were very great.

This province was not reseued only to come under a foreign yoke. Heaven preserve us from such a humiliation!

On the I4th of September we were at Insterburg, enjoying to the fuli our satisfaction over our victory and splendid achieve-ments. Ali the greater was my surprise at my appointment as Chief of Staff of the Southern Army, which was being formed under General von Schubert at Breslau.

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In the West the German advance had ended in a reverse.

The right wing of the German force in the West was too weak and did not extend far enough ; the withdrawal of the Guard R.C. and the nth A.C. had madę itself felt with fatal results. This wing should, of course, have been strengthened by Corps drawn from Lorraine and Alsace. That was enjoined in General Count von Schlieffens plan. Furtlier, it was ąuite contrary to his plan to let the German forces fhere advance so far forward against the Luneville-Epinal linę and be completely held up. That would have been the fate of the entire army if, instead of advancing through Belgium, we had kept our right wing south of Longwy. Whilst we were bleeding to death before the fortresses on the Verdun-Belfort linę, our right wing would have been attacked from Belgium and beaten by the, combined Belgian, French and English armies. At the same time we should kave lost our industrial region on the Lower Rhine. Our ultimate defeat would have been certain.

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