Though Field-Marshal von Hindenburg is undoubtedly the idol of the
people, there is no reason to suppose that he is a Moltke or a Carnet, or that there is any chance of his being able to turn the tide of battle. Indeed, as things are now, there is very little room for working a strategic miracle in Germany's favour. Hindenburg in supreme command may no doubt save waste by stopping the attacks at Verdun and by other acts of military thrift, or, again, he may possibly catch some impetuous Russian corps commander and trip up his heels. But even if he does, that will not really affect the course of the war. Hindenburg is not in a position, and cannot be in a position, to strike a really great and daring blow. There is no room for it and there are no men. It is too late to be ambitious in the field. No doubt many of his admirers in the German middle class would like to see him make an attempt at an invasion of England, but here again where is he to find the men, even if it were possible for him to break through the naval obstacles and obtain the command of the sea for twenty-four hours P_ If they could be landed, there is no place where a quarter of a million Germans would be so unprofit- ably disposed of as in these islands. An attempt at invasion must end in a hideous military disaster for the invaders, and therefore we ought to hope for it. We have now plenty of troops and guns with which to destroy a German army or force it to surrender.
