Evening journal., 1918-12-31

IINDEN[URG IS
FOR FRIENDSHIP
1un Warrior Thinks Amer
ica and Germany Could
"Patch Up
"ALLIES CROWDED US
INTO FIGHT, HE SAYS
BY C. c. LYON.
/. A. Stan Correspondent.

y. L. a. OLdll lOuucut.
PARIS, Dec. 3i-H.ndsnburg wants
America D be f.iendly with Germany.
He told ne so In an interview which
! have iuA brought from Germany.
''Now tlnt the war Is over, l sincere
ly t-ust he two nations may become
friends asin," he said.
The insrview took place In general
German irmy headquarters at Cassal,
in the PIissian p. ov.nce Of Hesse, about
halfway between the western bo.der
and Bern.
On IN day / arrived, Hindenburg was
out OF se city. was received by Gen
e-al Gnener. successo, to Ludendorff as
next il command TO Hindenburg.
Thenext morning Hindenburs was
still ssent, and was prepared to give
up he idea OF interviewing him and
resuIe my journey to Berlin.
l vas eating lunch in the Cassel ho-
tel Ihen a courier came from head
quaIers, saying Hindenbu-g had re-
turId, and would talk TO me at 4
o'clbk.
Hidenbu-g sent an automobile which
conveyed me 20 headquarters, located in
b hotel in the same grounds as the
kaisr's summer palace, a mile outside
thecity.
Here were no signs Of the revolu-
tio' around headquarters.
lon discipline prevailed.
b red flags were flying
y the walls hung oil portraits Of the
eSkaise-, and other Hohenzollern rul-
q.
At exactly Z o'clock a German major
II the way to Hindenburg's private
dee.
Hlndenburg, standing near a big fire.
nee, came forward quickly, shook
hnds. and addressed me through an in
tprcter in German.
TELL me frst-how did you get
t.e7"
! replied:
I'VE Just passed through your lines
ON the western front in an automo-
he. Nobody stopped us"
Hindenburg smiled.
Just like you Americans" he said.
While he drew up chairs, / took the
opportunity TO study him.
I He looked tired and carewofn. but
physically vigorous despite his p
years.
He is big-limbed. with an enormous
head and bIshy hair, his large mouth
partly hidden by a thick musiache
lie is mot so stern and forbiddlng as
I expected.
H'ndenburg said:
"You must appreciate why these are
sad days for me. Our great army fought
bravely. but were forced to quilt be-
fore the constantly growing superiority
u enemy numbers.
Il offered my services 20 ibe new
government, feeling it my patriotic
duty to remain In my present position
until demObilizatlon is completed IN an
orderly fashions
'After that l propose to seek retire
ment.
4 am convinced that have done my
full duty to the fatherland."
Hindenburg detailed how Germany
was fulfilling the terms OF the arm
stice
The hardest feature is the delivery
0f 50 many locomotives, cars and mo
iortuicks." he said.
"Tle food situation throughout Ger
many already IS critical, because bad
cr0ls have decreased our lrnportatlOns
Ol rain from Ruslsa, POlan1 and Ru-
malta. Surrenderipg so much rolling
stRk TO the allies makes harder our
lak OF transporting food supplies TO
ihl big centers where they are most
NEEDED, and increases our suGerirg.'
Nn't Talk About Return of Kaiser.
asked Hlndenburg II he thought the
elkaiser would ever get .hs throne
dck.
~ concern myself win military az
flrs. not with politics" he said.
Concerning Germanys future military
ians. he answered:
l''That Is a matter for The new gov
tnment to decide. cannot speak for
hem."
Then he made his plea for American
friendship, adding:
Il have always been great admirec
Of Robert e. Lee, both as man and
soldier"
General GrOener proved more talka-
live than Hlndenburg.
II myself saw for many years the