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Show -oo FALKENHAYN'S FALL (Salt Lake Tribune ) ' The appointment of Field Marshal von Hlndenburg as chief of the Ger-man Ger-man general staff is the first significant signifi-cant sign of uneasiness Emperor WI1 Ham and his military advisers have shown for many months. Whether the appointment was made to restore public confidence or because General von Falkcnhayn was blamed for reverses re-verses it reveals that the Germans are not satisfied with the military situation. situa-tion. Von Falkenhayn was considered in the central empires a soldier of tip utmost brilliancy. Despite the fart that he was a gambler and advent ous, though not an adventurer he was chosen chief of the general 'stiff when Count von MoItke?5 retired from that position Immediately after the failure at the Marne. For a year Von Falkenhayn justified the highest hopes. Germany met with several serious checks, such as the halting of the drive to Calais, but on the whole German arms wore triumphant. The mighty campaign in Russia was carried car-ried to a successful conclusion, Serbia and Montenegro were put out of action ac-tion and all the efforts of the allies to break through on the western front wore frustrated. With tho opening of the spring campaigns cam-paigns fortune turned slowly against the Germans. At first the turn or tho tide was not obvious. Even after tho gigantic failure at Verdun a Teutonic Teu-tonic offensive was launched with terrific ter-rific power in the Trentino district and tho Italians were almost swept off their feet and swamped. But then came the Russian offensive and its quick successes. Germany and Austria have been unable to act on tho offensive since that time and the Initiative Ini-tiative seemed to pass entirely to the entente allies. To what extent Von Falkenhayn Is held responsible for the situation we probably cannot know until the close of the war. Perhaps he Is not at all to blame. Perhaps tho selection of Hlndenburg Is an attempt at-tempt to cheer the nation In a dark V.,. i r,t Win TJ t ,1 ,n t, . l . uuui jjuijiu. v iiuiucuuui j; S IS a mighty name in the German land. His prestige and popularity are sufficient suffi-cient to buoy up the waning hopes of a whole people. i It Is possible that there has been a feud between Von Hndenburg and Von Falkenhayn regarding operation on the eastern front Von Hlndenburg may have advised one course of action and Von Falkenhayn another. In tho test Von Hindenburg's judgment may have proved correct. In any event Germany now has her leading soldier as chief of the general staff. oo- |
