Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-22
LUDENDORFE REAL
PAN-GERMAN HEAD
Now Politically Powerful, as
He Can Influence Acts of
Hindenburg.
BY OSWALD r. SCHUETTE.
Written for The Evening Star and the
CHICAGO Daily News -

BY OSWALD r. SCHUETTE.
Written for The Evening Star and the
Chicago Daily News
Gen. Ludendorff, first quartermaster
general of the German army and Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg's chief lieu
tenant, is the real leader Of the pan
Germans.
He displaced Admiral Won Tirpitz,
who was the pan-German ideal during
the first two years of tho war. The lat
ter's political neck was broken when
he tried to force a continuation OF I'M
restricted submarine warfare after the
Lusitania crime brought Germany to
the verge of war with the United
States At that time the pan-Germans
attempted to compel the kaiser to Dust
Bethmann Hollweg and put Tirpitz IN
his place. Instead, the admiral was re-
tired.
Ludendorff also has had his chancel-
lorship ambitions. But he has been
careful not to let them become fatal:
When Bethmann Hollweg resigned and
pan-Germans doomed Ludendorff for
the CHARACTERISTIC. But Ludendorh is
a capable politician and he took no
chances. He did not press his candi,
dacy, because he knew that it would
only complicate the issue. 1t was re-
ported also that Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg opposed the movement
The latter himself had been doomed foI
the chancellorship, but he made short
work of smothering the suggestion
ticfan."
Talked of Dictatorship.
At another time the Ludendorn po-
litical boom doomed large on the hori-
zon., That was before Michaelis re-
signed. when the reichstag peace coali-
ton was trying to force the acceptance
of a series of popular reforms. ihe
pan-Germans came out into the open
with a demand that the reichstag De
sent home and that Ludendorn be made
not only chancellor, but dictator. The
peace majority took up the threat
challenged the government to order
new elections and planned open revolt
even a general strike. The dictator
ship proposal died quickly.
But Ludendorff maintained his lead
ership of the pan -Germans. and ne Is
today their most powerful member
Chiefly because he can induce Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg to follow his
advice, he is politically almost the most
powerful man in the empire.
For 1t Is difficult here in the United
States to realize what a fetish the Ger
man people have made of Hindenburg
Even the kaiser persistently makes use
of this hero worship and has publicly
called Hindenburg the savior Of Ger.
many. There Is no discounting linden
burg's military genius. He has wor
great victories. More important from
name has been connected with no de-
feat He was not at the Marine. an6
the verdun operations were undertaken
against his expressed opposition. II
was that failure which pulled dowT
Ralkenhayn and put Hindenburg in his
place. Since then-at least until the
present offensive-every military un.
dertaking Hindenburg has touched has
succeeded. including the great retire.
ment on the west front last year.
Power of Hindenburg's Name.
His name has aroused the German
people to action where the kaiser's had
failed. When the workmen in the am
munition factories demanded better
food than the German card rations
made possible it was an appeal from
Hindenburg to the farmers of Ger.
many that modified millions of pounds
of hams and bacon for distribution
among these important laborers. I,
was Hindenburg's approval Of unre.
stricted submarine warfare that wipet
out all opposition. I have 1t from q
man who saw the fatal document tina,
the kaiser's signature was not put or
that order until after 1t had been taker
to army headquarters and signed b,
the chief of the general staff All the
navy appeals for its issue had been II
vain.
The name of Hindenburg has beer
one of the greatest assets Of the pan.
Germans. But Ludendorn is supposed
to write the kilograms which break
forth into pan-German print over the
field marshaIs signature. The German
liberal papers are reported now to b.
denouncing the last of these kilograms
sent in the name of the field marsha
to the vice president of the reichstaa
championing strong German peace
That Is interpreted to mean a pan.
German peace of annexation. and there
is no: doubt that that is what Luden.
dorf wants the people of Germanysfe
think the field marshal demands
1t is difficult to avoid the imp essior
that this careful stage management OF
the Hindenburg idolatry for political
purposes is much like the way in which
the priests of the ancients used the
lowing.