The sun., 1918-10-28
Germany's Waning Power
Probably Forced Resigna-
tion Of General.
HE PLANNED 1918 DRIVE
Move Is Viewed as Another Of
Many Signs of Military
AbdicatiOn.


Copyright. 1918: aR rights reserved.
LONDON, Oct. 2.-Another indica-
ton Of the waning strength Of the
Junker party in Germany was seen
by London to-day, when it was in
formed that Gen. Ludendorff, First
Quartermaste General Of the Ger
man army and by many reputed to
be the brains Of the Kaisers military
organization. had resigned and that
his resignatio officially had been &C.
cepted.
In official circles in London Gen.
Ludendorffs resignation is rega ried
as an undoubted admission of the fail.
ure OF the German military effort on
the western front, though unaccepted
as pointing definitely to Germany's
capitulation. 1t raises very hopeful
possibilities in military circles. 1t is
said that Gen. Ludendorf's intention
| has been known authoritatiyely for
some days, but there Is difference OF
opinion on the real reasons for 1t.
A high officer sscribed the resigna-
ton to Gen. Ludendorff's refusal to
| approve the terms of the last German
reply to President Wilson. Others say
that Gen. Ludcndorff recognizes the
| impossibilities OF continuing the war
and resigns TO save himself from the
humiliation Of being a party to the
capitulation after his boastful prophe-
cles that the kaiser's battles would end
| with the German armies in Paris.
Making Ludendorn q scapegoat.
The belief also was expressed that
according to the traditions of the Prus-
sian army. Gen. Ludendorff, following
Moltke and Falkenhayn, is being made
the scapegoat for the failure OF Ger
man arms. Still another suggestion is
! that the German Government offers
Gen. Ludendortfs retirement as proof
| Of the subordination OF the military to
the civil power. which, however. so
| long as the Kaiser remains head OF the
army, is hardly convincing.
What ever may be the reason II is
undoubtedly the severest blow to Ger
manys military prestige in the course
| OF tho war, and cannot fail to shake fur
ther the remaining confidence the Ger
man soldiery and people have in their
military leaders.
The FrunkJurter .Zenun0's demand
for the Kaiser's abdication possesses far
more significance than could be attached
to similar expressions already made by
other German papers. The Frdnkfurter
| Zeituuo is the leading organ OF the
moneyed interests, which are showing
more concern for the preservation OF
pre-war trade advantages and more ap-
prehenslon regarding the economic boy
colt than In the future of the Hohen-
zollerns. or even the German empire.
The declaration by the Vienna Arbei-
ter Zettun0 that Germany must make
peace as soon as possible so that the
German and Austrian people can ally
themselves with the Entente democracy
to fight Entente imperialism, is signifi-
cant Of the influences at work in the
Teutonic empires.
4
Opinion in London was summed UP to-
night for THE SUN by Lord Charles
Beresford. who said:
1T would have been better for Ger
many II Gen. Ludendorfr had accepted
the Kaiser's abdicstion than the
Kaiser had accepted the resignation OF
Gen. Ludendorff. My Interpretation OF
the resignation is that Germany has
put down the helm and swung about the
ship, going to another tack. She Is
about to accept the Entente terms, which
mean unconditional surrender. sinca tae
terms OF the armistice are such as TO
make Impossible u retirement hy the
Germans to their own frontier to- re-
organ zation OF their armies for defence,
"rhe Junkers and militar.sts whine
and cry. Don't depose our Kaiser. for
you will create a condition OF Bolshevism
in SGermany which will spread after