In September 1914 there were numerous reports of German retreats in many areas of Europe. The Elmira Signet suggested that this was a ploy by German commanders and not necessarily a sign of the war coming to a close. The Elmira Signet reported that Western Germany offered an ideal defensive position for the Kaiser’s army. With multiple transportation networks, over two million men in the Landwehr, along with geographic advantages such as the Rhine, the conclusion was made that the First World War was going to last longer than current official pronouncements were suggesting. With this article, the Elmira Signet was indicating that the region should be prepared for a long war.
(Germany’s Strength,” Elmira Signet, 24 September 1914)
