Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-24

only slipped into the shoes OF Moltke
but has tried on the coat Of sBismarck--
that is he has reached out for the wires
OF civil administration. After the cons
quest OF Russian territory he would not
permit the usual German plan to be
followed Of turning over the occupied
territory to sort OF mixed posse OF
retired officers and civilians" Bel
GUM has suffered from the plague Of
cocksure and warning officials, and al
90 northern France" says Mencken,
but not so the east. The army is the
source Of all law, of all rights. Of all
privileges, even of all livelihood. And
the army is Ludendorff.
Curious tales are told OF his omni-
presence and his omniscience. He de-.
vised and promulgated, it Is said, the
Polish customs tariff Hn fixed rail-
road rates. routes and even schedules.
When it was proposed to set up
branches of the great German banks in
Warsaw, Lodz and wilma, he examined
the plans and issued permissions.
When Americans came in with relief
schemes, he heard them, cross-exam-
ined them. and tsld them what they
could do and could not do. He made
regulations for newspaper correspond
ents, prison camp workers, refugees.
Dirnen, Jews. He established news
service for the army. He promulgated
ordinances for the government OF cities
and towns and appointed their Off
Gals. He proclaimed compulsory edu-
cation. and ordered that underofficers
be told off to teach school. In brief. he
reorganized the whole government.
from top to bottom of a territory Of
more than 100000 square miles, with
population of at least 15.o00,O00, and
kept firm grip, either directly or thru
officers always under his eye, upon ev-
cry detail of its administration.
Vast Field Of Opportunity.
"All this was nearly two years ago.
Last summer came Hindenburg's pro-
nation to the supreme command. and
with it a vast increase in opportunity
for Ludendorff. Hitherto his power and
even his influence, had stopped at the
German border: now his hand began to
be felt in Berlin"
Tasks which Ludendorff then took
up with remarkable success the writer
relates, were the increase Of the NUNS
ton supply, the CONSUMPTION af labor
and the improvement of food control.
THE doctrine of Ludendorff is simple"
says. The whole energy of
the German people must be concen-
tr.ted on-the war" Even last February.
he says. the army was rolling a sin
lister eye toward the Wilhelmstrasse"
Has the CHARACTERISTIC been offered
to Ludendorff?" he wrote. MANY Ger.
mans believed it at the time left. It
was, in fact. common gossip in Ber-
lin. But so far as l could find out It
was gossip only. Ludendorff Is unques-
the new Moltke; he Is olso
the new Bismarck, so long awaited. so
diligently sought in vafn?~
The 1914 edition Of the German Who's
Who did not mention Ludendorff at AL.
At the time 1t was published he was a
simple colonel on the great general staff
detailed to work out routes for the
march of the army in case Of war-a
highly important commission, but one
not bringing him to public notice. After
showing qualities in action on the west
ern front at the outbreak Of the war
tia: woc him he communication Of SUI
perior officers and the kaiser, he was
on August 20, 1914. made chief Of staff
Of Hindsnburg and hastened to East
PrusEa-a turning point in his own
career and in tho history Of the war.