The sun., 1917-12-04
DOUBTSIF US,
SENDS BIG ARMY
Hindenburg Calls TranspOrta-
ton and U-BOats In.
superable.
WAR OFFERS PRETEXT
LudendOrff Says Contest Will
End in Decision for
Central Powers.
WAR OFFERS PRETEXT

AMSTERDAM. Dec 3.-Field Marshal
Won Hindenburx. according to an inter-
view with the Vienna Neue Freie Presse.
still discounts the entry OF the United
States into the war. The German Field
Marshal is quoted as making an ironical
reference to american advertising
methods" adding:
1T is certain that the United State.
10 making efforts to create q big army,
and the war IL an opportunc pretext
for this. as in peace times the dinicuities
would he too great to DO It. Japan,
too. would not have looked on with
indifference.
"'rhe Americans hardly will send their
newly created army into Europe At once.
as by doing 20 their own country would
be rendered helpless In case Japan
should show sudden inclination to
square up old accounts with America.
Ready 10 Meet 4. $. Airplanes.
Moreover the transport question
would offer difficulties not less than
supplies. German C-boats would be a
further obstacle
ut certainly MAJ be easy TO build
thousands OF airpls res. as America has
announced. but it is difficult to equip
them. But whcrsve. they may appear
the Germans Will not be wanting"
Gen. Won l.udendoIff. HindenOurg' :
chief OF stan. is quoted in the same
interview as SAYING that the war will
end in decision for the Central Powers.
He does not base this belief so much
upon the Russian situation a. upon
the general trend OF events. He as
serted. an a. .mistice would be of sdvan-
tage solely to the Entente. while Ger
many would ne able to receive no
supplies during the interruption OF sub
marine warfare.
Asked whether the western European
Powers without the prospect Of Amer
ica's assistance would not in the mean
time have been forced to conclude pea ce
Gen. Won Ludendorn said.
''Since the C-bOat war gave America
. pretext 10 enter the war. this question
is tantamount to the question as to
whether the C-boat war was the right
policy. Regarding this my conviction is
unchanged. The U-boat war is right
!; has accomplished what We expected
IL was not question Of starving Eng
land within few months. but OF MAX
ing her inclined toward peace.
"'rhe supreme army command in
tended by means Of the submarine war
10 cause not so much special but gem
crsl effects. and especially as regards
s'ngland-to cut of her very important
supplies Of coal.
Thinks Little Of BoIshevik Oaer.
How effective the campaign has been
In this respect is proved by the report
Of the chief of the German field rail-
ways that the allied troops In Italy need
no other supplies than coal. The scar
city OF British tonnage is also proved by
Erg!ands inability to import Australian
wheat.
1T appears the Russians are the frst
10 he inclined for peace. ] will not say
that ] regard the Bolshevik manifesto
ton as a peace Offer There must be a
secure government for this purpose, one
which possesses power to enforce inter-
nally and externally the results OF the
negotiations with US. OF course We car
conclude an armistice with Russia at
any time as soon az we have the as
surance that 1t will be maintained A
general arnistice, however will be dif-
tcul, 10 achieve"
Gen. Won Ludendorr considered the
Russian revolution not a mere piece OF
luck for the Central Powers but a ma
tural result Of the war operations
Modern war" said the General, lis
a war OF peoples. not Of armies, ana a
war enus now When an enemy DeOplA in
defeated. There are no decisive battles
as in former wars. The battles merely
have an indirect influence on the whole
national system, inducing decay and col
lapse
The CORRESPONDENT says he gained the
impression that Field Marshal Won Hin.
denburg and Gen. Won Ludendorff desire
n peace which will create conditions. OF
security and stability so far as possible
one which will bring with II secure from
tier" and free economic activity on land
and sea.
One More Hussian blow Possible.
With reference to the Russian army
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg gave to
the correspondent hts opinion that no
more military activity on q large scale
could be expected from II.
He thought It possible. however. adds
the correspondent. that some dsspot or
other like Grand Duke Nicholas might
Cesttwvsd On ssee~d RsSA