The Washington herald., 1918-05-22
Shaky Idols.

The Berlin publicity pundits are shaping the
German mind for bitter, barren news With it
they forsee the shattering of one fetch, and are
striving to raise another to the vacant pedestal.
The fetch is Hindenburg His offensive is
doomed, and he is doomed. The failure of one is
equivalent to the failure OF the other. Won Moltke
ieil Ike so much molten after the Marne
Verdun spelt Waterloo for Falkenhayn, and the
great thrusts of 1918 is equally fateful for the
Joint team OF Hindenburg. and Ludendorff
Who IS the new "substtute"-the new sabre
rattler lust as good" to absorb the nexhaustible
German capacity for hcro-worship, to maintain
Germanic faith in the sword: Mackensen, beyond
doubt Already he is being "groomed" for the idols
place, the new Deaths Head Hussar who will
squeeze victory out OF the husk which Hindenbnrg
and Ludcndorff will bequcath him. :
The crisis in Germany will be reached doubt
less in late summer The blow to Ludendorf's
prestige by the miscarriage of his plans on the
Somme and Disc is tactly admitted by the German
experts they forsce the fact that the failure of the
offensive will be recognized even by the gullible
German civilian within. the two months-un-
less in the meantime striking, conclusive victory
is achieved 1t is this gamble for victory which is
coming shoruy-probably within the next two
weeks The long lull after the repulse OF the Huns
at Mont KENNEL has meant only one thing to
Germans, well to the rest of the world 1t
has meant that the first phase OF the great offensive
ended in definite and clean-cut stoppage OF the
entire Germanic plan, outlined by Hindenburg
and Ludendorff.
The leaders have had long breathing spell and
an opportunity to rccast their plan OF attack, as
well restore their broken divisions. Probably
the keencst brains in the German army realize that
the coveted decision this ummer has Cludcd their
grasp; that Foch is braccd for the new blow, that
Aniens ard the channel ports cannot be reached
except sacrifice OF man-powcr which would
be urthinkablc.
Perhaps this very moment Hndcnburg and
luderdorf arguing with their confrcrcs in favor
OF this huge sacrifice OF blood which the allie will
dcrunad as the price for the attainment OF Ger
manic objcctivcs. Perhaps they are being met with
the argument that the German people, who have
endured all things, yet so degraded as to
submit to the setting up OF human abbatoir and
slaughtcrhousc in Europe in the name OF modern
warfare.
Perhaps Hindcnburg and Ludcndorf are in
position to impose their point of view on their
people. Ii so, God help them when their ultimate
failure cOnfTonts them, and the oceans OF blood
which they have wasted in the G-cat Folly en-
gulis them! The Ncronic tradition in history will
be almost Elysian dream the niche awarded
this precious Pair in the Putonian dccps
The end OF the Hindcnburg legend involves no
very far glimpse into the future. Whether Macken-
m create new ono; whether he can spur
and whip the tagging German 10 maintain his
endless chase ior the will O the wisp OF victory
like Ssyphus forever pushing the stone up to the
top OF the hill, only to it roll down again, is
OF those big questions on which the whole fl-
.ure course OF the war depends.
The Kaiser never keeps warrior in the post
oi power when his 'scutchcon is tarnshed. No
German commander in this war cannot survive
allure. Hirdcnburg and Ludendorf cannot. The
supply OF suPcrmcn is running low in Germany;
Mackcnsen will play the part with difficulty, and
perhaps with brcvity. For German belief in mira
lies and in the divine right OF their monarch is
waning.