South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-19

boss" lin Gen. Won Ludendorf. first
quartermaster general The hand
OF Field Marshal Won HiRdeRburg's
chief Of staff and trusted colleague
now is felt not only in his strategic
determinations and direction OF tie
armies of the central powers, but
reaches out into Germany's whole
economic and social life.
All the threads not only of mill
taTy control, but also Of civil ad-
ministration, food distribution, in
dustry, agriculture and finally even
OF German foreign relations, all Of
which now are subOrdinated TO mill
itary requirements, now run ulti-
mately to the chateau at the SilesiaB
country seat OF the prince Of Pless
where Gen. Won LudendOrff sits with
the great feld marshal. Won Hiden-
burg, at imperial headquarters.
Where a purely military decision Isl
in question, Won Hidenburg's name is
usually cited as the deterTnInant au-
thority, but in all great questions in
the forefront of Germany policy in
recent months, such as the intro
ductipn of universal military labor
service, the conversion of German
industry to an absolute war basis,
the transfer of Belgian workmen TO
Germany, the tightening of the 1000
distribution regulations and finally
unrestricted submarine warfare, the
prophecies of coming decisions in in
formed circles were almost invari-
ably accompanied by the self-ex-
planatory remark: Won Ludepdorff
list dafuer" Ludendorn is for it,.
Saved Day i'm East i'm 1911.
The talented general staff officer
who in the exciting days OF August,
1914. when the original German
commander in the east. Lieut.. Gen.
yon Prittwitz und Gaffron had de-
termined TO retire before the SUI
perior Russian forces and already
had given orders to abandon east
Prussia and fell back behind the Wis
tula river was hurried eastward
from imperial headquarters, picking
up Field Marshal Won Hindenburg
on the way, 10 save the situation,
has merely extended to all Of Ger
liAallAg NlAE c1NAGiil MAAANAA AAN AhNAO
duced in the east when Won linden
burg was merely the over-command-
er of the eastern forces. Gen. Won
LundendOrff then had full control
of the entire administration in the
occupied districts OF Russia.
If a new customs tariff were to be
introduced for Poland and if regu-
latiOns for the tobacco trade were
to be promulgated, the decision
thereon ultimately rested with Gen.
Won Lundendorff New municipal
regulations for towns in occupied
districts emanated from the civil adj
ministration bureau attache TO the
over commander in the east" The
representatives of American-Jewish
societies who came to Germany To
arrange an opening OF eOmmunica
ton between Polish Jews and rela
tives in America and for the send
ing of relief funds, conferred with
Gen. Won Ludendorff before the plans
were approved finally.
Rectifes Munition Error.
When Field Marshal Won Hiden
burg was appointed to the general
command of Germany's entire mill
tary strength, Gen. Won Ludendorff
extended not only the scope of his
military responsibilities. but also mis-
control of those factors of general
life which under the present war
conditions are almost as important
to military success as the actual di-
rection of armies-fOOd production
and distribution, manufactures, /
TRANSPORTATION and other social and
industrial factors.
His first decision was to remedy.
as far as possible, the error Of Gen. /
Won Falkenhayn, former chief of the
general staff, who had attempted 10
fx the figure for the maximum con- f;
sumption Of munitions and had sad
ly under estimated the required
amounts. Gen. Won Ludendorff's de- /
termination was not to produce the
amount of guns and munitions
which experts might calculate as
necessary. but the maximum amount
of which Germany's industries were
capable, and subordinated every
thing else TO this purpose.
From this came Germany's grand !
StHEllit 81 il0u4lA1Ati6 NiAt NAAAAt Aet-
Dor supply in direct service OF the
army The idea of the compulsory
employment of Belgian labor in Ger |
man industry. it now may be stated, /
also was Gen. Won LudendOrff's, not /
Gen. Won BissiRg's idea, or at any
rate when Gov. Gen. Won Kissing
and the civil administration of Bel I
GUM raised against this scheme the |
impossibility of carrying it out with /
out exciting diplomatic compiled |
tons. il was the higher military ]
authority which Overruled the OBJ 1
lection and ordered the plan put into /
effect.
Consulted by kruppS.
The Krupps. August Thyssen, the !
iron magnate. and other big indus
trial leaders of Germany, go direct
to Gen. Ludendorff for consultations
and directions regarding the pro- I
duction Of munitions and supplies. 1
Thyssen last autumn brought from I
Won I.udendorff the word that there
would be no ruthless submarine
warfare. which the Associated Press
sent in an interview 70 the American f.
press. and il was again from the
chateau at Pless after the rejection
of Germany's peace overtures had
changed the situation, that word