The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-17
FRANCE SCORES
HINDENBURG AS
GREAT BUFFER
Riddles Interview Oh West
Front Plans Given by Mar
shal and LudendOrff.
ALLIES AWAIT SURPRISE
Berlin Conferences Said to
Have Concerned Films, Poles
and Related Problems.

WASHINGTON, March l6.-An official
despatch to-day from France says:
Before making their last trip to Ber-
lin Hindenburg and Ludendorff made
certain statements to the newspaper
correspondents attached to Great Head
quarters.
This interview probably had double
purpose--that of encouraging public
opinion and OF bringing pressure to bear
on the adversary by the usual Germanic
blum. What is outstanding In the decla-
rations OF the couple OF generals swollen
with pride and childish vanity Is that
tho German Government Is more than
ever before in the hands OF the military
caste, brutal. narrow and insolent.
"Discussing the events in the east
Hindenburg declared:
1.-The chain which was to bind us is
from henceforth broken. We can now
employ all our forces in the west. 1t
s absolutely necessary for US to procure
security on our frontiers 80 that We shall
not see repeated the lamentable events
which marked the beginning OF the au-
tumn Of 1914
1T is to be noted that German opin-
ion does not realize the exact extent OF
the success obtained In the east because
the people are looking to-day toward
the west. Hindenburs said regarding
this:
"~rhings are always the same. People
never appreciate at their just value the
results already obtained Then they
proceeded to speak OF events that are
imminent in the west.
with the insolence Of German
trooper, the commander of the German
armies, who since the battle OF the
Narne has met with defeat in every en-
counter with the French. said: France
has dug her own grave. She Is entirely
under the rule OF England. II the
French treated less harshly our poor
war prisoners one would have more pity
for the unhappy fate Of their country
Forecasts q severe Offensive.
.I.udendorff added: We can now
pass to the offensive In the west II
this offensive 10 made II will be very
severe. 1t must be taken into account
! that the enemy has at it's disposal
strong reserve OF many divisions and
that II possesses 4 fine network OF rail-
ways for Transporting reserves at
point where they are considered neces-
sary But one must not overlook the
! moral factor. We are full OF con-
/ fidence and we remain persuaded that
the hght in which we are TO engage VIII
/ end happily for us
/ "Ludendorff added that it was OF ir-
estimable value to Germany 20 possess
such General as Hindenburg The
Marshal interrupted him and observed
What !s essential is the good morale
Of the German soldiers. 1t Is TO them
I that we owe our victory. ] am con
vnced tina, this morale is found through
out all Germany
The despatch concludes with the fol'
lowing French comment:
Thus do those express themselves
who are at the present moment the rea
heads OF the German nation. Beneath
the apparent confidence their words con
vey one can detect anxiety. They know
that on the west rhey will come W
against the victorious will OF the grea
democracies of the world more for
midably armed and determined thar
ever H!ndenburg could never achiev,
success except on the east front lie has
always had great fear Of the dsllusor
which the west has in reserve FOR him
However. II is possible that the German,
are carefully conceal!ng their plans II
the hope OF deceiving their adversarie:
and upsetting public opinion. but what
ever happens the Allies are prepared ant
nothing can surprise them.
East Figured In Conferences.
An official despatch to-day from Bern,
quotes a Berlin despatch as declaring !
was the Eastern question which was TIL
object OF Hindcnburg's recent conference
with the Emperor and the Chancellor
They discussed at the same time Fin
land, Poland and Lithuania, the Balti,
provinces and Rumania. The Govern
Inent IL expected to make statemen
next week on the situation.
The Government. It is declared. l.
occupied with the result OF conference
held between the leaders OF the Polisl
Activists and delegates from the ma
tority in the Relchstag. At these con
ferences there was planned an economi
and political alliance between Polant
and the Central Powers, and even tn
conclusion OF military convention
The new Polish States would be unre
lated to Prussian Poland and could eX
pand in the East.
The question OF Courland also ma
| been studied. The Vossische Zeitun0
the Berne despatch says, believes tina
the majority. and In particular Deput.
Erzberger. have clearly opposed tn
personal union of Courland with tn
empire They seem also to have con
sldered It impossible to solve separatei
: each of the Eastern questions whc
are pressing.
zone cannot isolate the question o
Couriand from the Polish and Lithu
anian question" II says. "One mus
then wait before making definite de
cislon TO find out what is happening 1
Moscow and Bucharest.
Finally. the reception by Hindenbur
OF the President OF the Republic OF Fin
land and the Finnish Minister in Berl
proves the Finnish problem has bee
under discussion"