Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/291

LEFT TANKS 247 TANNENBEBG to be increased in strength. What came to be called the "male" tank was distin- guished from the "female" tank by its offensive weapons. The "male" tank was equipped with quick-firing guns ca- pable of firing shells effective in putting machine guns out of action. The "fe- male" tank carried machine guns only his favor he had behind him an admir able system of strategic railroads. Rennenkampf himself, with a large army, was in the neighborhood, but his subordinate in command, Samsonov, with about 200,000 men was advancing through the lake region, defeating a Ger- man force near Frankenau. Flushed by AMERICAN WHIPPET TANK effective merely in meeting an infantry charge. All available wall space in the tanks was used for storing ammunition, and the vehicle was made as self-sustain- ing as possible, although it was recog- nized from the beginning that its most effective use was as a co-operative and auxiliary arm, to attacking infantry. TANNENBEBG, BATTLE OF, a great battle which takes its name from a vil- lage in East Prussia, in the Mazurian Lakes region, was one of the first im- portant general engagements between German and Russian forces in the World War. In the early weeks the Russians, under Rennenkampf, had invaded East Prussia and defeated the German re- taining forces, under von Francois, who were forced back on Konigsberg. The German General Staff, alarmed by this serious situation, immediately made he- roic efforts to retrieve their disaster and heavy reinforcements were sent to East Prussia under the command of General von Hindenburg, already retired, but recognized as one of the best informed German officers regarding the topogra- phy of the difficult lake region in East Prussia. In all he had about 150,000 men, with which to drive back the much superior forces of the Russians, but in his victory, he decided to advance to Allenstein, through a country of small lakes, bogs and marshes. The nature of the country made it impossible for any large army to march in a compact mass, and Samsonov was obliged to divide his army into two main columns. On Aug. 26 he encountered a strong German force. This was von Hinden- burg's newly organized army, who had taken a position across the railroad from Allenstein to Soldau. With his intimate knowledge of the country, Hindenburg had arranged his position in such a way that he had a large area of lakes and swamp, utterly impassable, imme- diately in front of him. Thus only his flanks were open to attack, and he could re-enforce either wing without danger from attack against his front. The Rus- sians attacked, and until the last day of the month it seemed that they were to win another victory here. Then Hinden- burg counter-attacked with such skill that he deceived Samsonov regarding his intentions, and caught the right flank of the Russians unexpectedly, at the same time getting possession of the only road by which they could have retreated. The Russians were driven deeper and deeper into the bogs and marshes. They found their guns sinking into the soft mire