THE NATIONAL REVIEW No. 415. SEPTEMBER 1917 EPISODES OF THE MONTH NOT the least of the major charlatans which the Great War has thrown up is Marshal Hindenburg, whose cheaply earned fame National rests upon one single exploit-namely, the annihilation three years ago of a Russian army at Tannenberg, which was unarmed and betrayed. He has done nothing since beyond becoming a demigod in the home of hysteria. Capable soldiers like Falkenhayn and Mackensen have been subordinated to him. It is believed by the few foreigners who know Germany that at any moment we might hear of a Hindenburg Dictatorship, as besides being worshipped by the populace he is feared by his Sovereign. It is not for us to complain of this exaltation any more than of the strategy of Wilhelm II, which on more than one critical occasion is believed to have turned the tide in favour of the Entente. Our only anxiety is lest Hindenburg should be found out by the Fatherland, and it is somewhat ominous that nowadays he is never allowed to move a yard either at the Front or at the Back without his "ghost," in the shape of General Ludendorff, who is alleged to be a man of exceptional ability, possessing political insight as well as military skill. Hindenburg, who loves limelight like charlatans elsewhere, desired to step into the shoes of Dr. von Bethmann-Hollweg, and was with difficulty dissuaded by Ludendorff, who argued that the military clique could get all they wanted if they put in a dummy, in the person of Dr. Michaelis, who would be a convenient scapegoat on his inevitable failure. VOL. LIX 1 The situation in Germany, as always, remains somewhat obscure. The manner in which this community of sixty millions has been secreted from the outside world throughout the war is the outstanding achievement of the Berlin Government, but the keenest observers of that mysterious country seem to be agreed that before the end we shall see yet more naked Militarism. Hindenburg will probably not rest content with the reality of power, but will insist on also enjoying its semblance. We have no ambition to pose as prophets, but everything is possible across the Rhine. It was welcome news to the Allies that Bethmann-Hollweg had fallen, as he enjoyed a spurious reputation abroad as "a moderate man," which made him peculiarly dangerous while in office lest Moderates," who abound in this country, should be lured into negotiations" with a supposedly kindred spirit with a view of arriving at a comprehensive and statesmanlike settlement of all outstanding differences on a mutual basis of give and take,' in their familiar jargon, of which Bethmann-Hollweg was no less a master. There is this difference between a British Moderate and a German Moderate-namely, that the former means what he says while the latter does not. It is just this which makes any negotiations between any Germans and any British impracticable. Even Lord Newton must have realized this in his recent experiment at The Hague, of which sanguine accounts were given to the House of Lords. The fact was discreetly concealed that though we had gone through the formality of consulting the French Government, their wise objection to any pourparlers between Britons and Boches was ignored. We shall be surprised if in the long run our unfortunate prisoners of war, whose affairs have been heartlessly mismanaged, will benefit by this infelicitous incident. Meanwhile other heaven-born diplomatists may be tempted to follow Lord Newton's example. EVEN better news than the fall of Bethmann-Hollweg would be the appointment of Hindenburg, which would both silence our illusionists and mark the beginning of the end, as "Nerves" some such forlorn hope must precede a German debacle. Meanwhile we owe much to Hindenburg and should make the most of him. May his shadow never grow less, may his statues multiply. He is a suitable idol for a nation of bullies. He has, however, said one sensible thing in the war, unless it was said by Ludendorff-namely, that in the last resort victory would go to the nation "with the better nerves," which, needless to say, he declared to be Germany. The British Government should take this warning to heart, as at the opening of the fourth year of this titanic struggle, with a fourth winter of anxiety ahead of us, it is more than ever necessary to see the situation steadily and to see it whole; to look all the facts, disagreeable as well agreeable, straight in the face, and to steer an even keel between that frivolous optimism which was our bane throughout the earlier period, and that equally groundless pessimism which degenerates into hopelessness and so frequently demoralizes the middle-aged and the elderly who lead unhealthy because sedentary and stuffy lives. Office is at all times a trial to the character, and we see men deteriorating in peace-time to the point of being unable to spend a day from their Department, under the delusion that the world would come to an end, though as a matter of fact no harm would befall the world if they went away for a month, and in most cases the Department would get on much better. The strain of war must weigh down and wear out any Ministers who conscientiously grapple with its portentous problems. We can make great allowance for them some need a holiday, while others should retire altogether if they find themselves unable, as is only natural, "to keep up their pecker." Everybody who can preserve his equilibrium and take a level-headed view of the prospect must be reassured as to the future by what has happened in the past. That Germany did not win the war when she had infinitely more cards in her hands than any of us realized at the time is an ever-increasing source of wonder, demonstrating that she can't hope to win now that the trumps are in the hands of the Allies, who can only be robbed of victory if they are afraid to play them, i.e. if any of their Governments have not the necessary heart or the stomach, or for any undisclosed reason don't want to win. The Russian collapse is admittedly a profound disappointment to all of us, because it is obvious from the present military situation and the heavy blows rained on the enemy from the Channel to the Adriatic that were Russia able to do one half, or even a quarter, of what was reasonably expected of her, now that several of her armies are properly armed and munitioned, we might have hoped for a military decision this year. Germany would be already on her beam-ends, and when once chastened by defeat in the field we should find her surprisingly reasonable and humble and prepared to accept almost any terms. Disaster is the one and only thing the Hohenzollerns could not hope to survive in a community whose creed is Real-politik and whose god is success. It is idle to cry over spilt milk, nor can one wish the Romanoffs back on the Russian throne, because Nicholas II was so weak as to be unable to withstand his Potsdam entourage and there was serious danger of a separate peace, negotiated by the Reactionaries, some of whom were in German pay. WE are clearly entitled to take every factor into account-the encouraging as well as the discouraging-and it is demonstrable Russian that, now that Great Britain has become a great military Power, had Russia remained one, the Big Four could have put the Boche on his back and then it would only have been a question of keeping him there. This operation is now postponed, for how long we cannot say, but it is none the less certain, provided we can keep our politicians in order and can prevent them from courting disaster, either through cowardice, incompetence, or love of sensationalism. Even though Russia has dropped out for the time being and has relapsed into anarchy, so far she shows few signs of violating the Pact of London and making a separate peace, and to that extent Germany has been disappointed. Again, although the action of adjoining Russian armies has cruelly increased the burdens of Rumania, who had pulled herself together in a remarkable manner during the past winter, it is not certain that Marshal Mackensen has sufficient troops to secure a local decision in this theatre of war. If only the Rumanians, who have the grit, had also the weapons absorbed by their Russian neighbours, they would have given an exceedingly good account of themselves and have brilliantly seconded the efforts of Italy. As it is, the Dual Monarchy seems to be swaying under the hammering of General Cadorna, whose well-timed offensive should prove as serviceable to Russia as General Brusiloff's campaign of last summer was helpful to Italy, then battling against a formidable Austrian attack. Russia |