GERMAN PRAISE FOR JOFFRE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14743, 23 October 1915, Page 7

GERMAN PRAISE FOR JOFFRE.

CHAMPAGNE TACTICS UNSURPASSED BRITISH AND INDIANS ALSO PRAISED, Press Association—Telegraph—Copyright. Received October 23, 2.55 p.m. LONDON, October 22. The Daily Telegrapu’s Rotterdam corresponuent learns from a German staff officer that Berlin military circles regard General Joffre as a genius. Berlin militarists were extremely nervous in the early stages of the French attack in the Champagne, but became calmer when the French troops did not succeed in breaking the German line. Nevertheless, Jcffre’s plan was perfect, and unsurpassed by any tactics in the whole war. There was a wonderful co-ordination between ihe French General Staff’s plans and the arrangements for carrying them out. The successful and elaborate manner in which the details were worked out and focussed constitutes a remarkable achievement, and evidences careful generalship. The German ' officer also highly praises the Anglo-French troops, and regards the Indians' work as a revelation ,in striking contrast to the German newspapers’ scofflngs at “coloured Englishmen.” BRITISH TACTICS CRITICISED. CRITICAL MOMENT IN GERMAN FORTUNES. LONDON, October 22. The officer in question has no such high admiration for the British method of attack. He has nothing but praise for the British troops, but is inclined to criticise the tactical scheme upon points whereon he eulogised the French officers. He admitted that the Allies’ west front offensive had relieve the German pressure upon the Russians, haps at the most critical moment, when Hindenburg was attempting to efivelope the Yilna triangle. Threatened with great disaster, the Gormans were compelled to withdraw large forces from the east front. These reached Belgium terrioly exhausted, ragged, and war-worn. They were not rested after three months’ continuous fighting in Galicia and elsewhere on the east front. They hau suffered the severest privations, being often pushed on ahead of supplies, and told to get food from the Russian villages, but were compelled to search dead Russians on the battlefields for bread rations, and at last were compelled to march westward for 10 days, travelling in the train for five days. They bitterly complained of the harshness of their officers. The reserves in Belgium were withdrawn to the last man. Brussels and Antwerp on September 26th were denuded of troops for the first time since their occupation. Every man was hurried to the front, leaving only the Landsturm, who were greybeards.- ■