German strategy calculated that Russia would require at least a month before her mobilization was complete, during which time Germany should be able to overwhelm France, before turning to meet her heavier and slower foe.
The plan was worked out with a thoroughness of organization that deserves all praise. It failed, partly through Belgium's unexpectedly dogged resistance which kept off the attack on France for three weeks, partly through the superior strategy of General Joffre, partly through the utter collapse of the Austrian -leswe. When the Germans turned to face the Russians in earnest the latter were too strong for more than partial impressions to be made on them. On August 17 a lightly equipped force under General Rennenkamf invaded Fast Prussia by way of Lyck and Gumbinnen and advanced rapidly upon Jobannisberg and Allenstein, throwing out wings in the direction of Koenigsberg and Thorn. The movement was never intended as more than a raid, but its moral effect was excellent in spreading alarm through Germany, at that time fed on endless stories of victory, and the German General Staff was compelled to detach large reinforcements from the western theatre, before which Rennenkampf was forced to retire. By mid-September he was behind the Nieman, not without loss, but with the satiefaction of having done good work in still further distracting the en-amy from his main object.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.