Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17

differences drawn from statements by
Sir Robert Cecil, British minister Of
blockade; Field Marshal Hindenburg
and Gen. Ludendorf that Germany
might be proposing a peace at the ex-
pense of Russia make peace talk in gen
eral no more popular in Washington
than it has been at any time since the
United States went to war.
Officials everywhere, declining to make
statements for the very reason that any
sort of statement would give comfort
to peace movement, gave unmistakable
indications of how unweleome peace dis
eussions were at this time.
This attitude of American officials
found a highly interesting reflection in
French official dispatches giving ac-
counts of the interviews recently Civ
en- by Hindenburg and Ludendorn At
German headquarters and publications
F.. in German newspapers of the situation
on the eastern battlefront
As Question Is Viewed in France.
An official dispatch yesterday from
France says:
Before making their last trip to
Berlin Hindenburs and Ludendorh
made certain statements to the news
paper correspondents attached to
great headquarters.
This interview probably had a dou-
BILE purpose, that of encouraging pub
lie opinion and of bringing pressure to
bear upon the adversary by the usual
German blun. What is outstanding In
erals swollen with pride and childish
vanity is that the German government
Is more than ever before in the hands
of the military caste. brutal, narrow
and inSolent-
"Discussing the events in the east.
Hiudenburg declared: The chain
which was to bind US is from hence
forth broken We can now employ all
our forces in the west. 1t Is absolute
ly necessary for US to procure security
on our frontiers so that we shall not
see repeated the lamentable events
which marked the beginning of the
autumn in 1914.
Estimate of German Opinion.
ut is to be noted that German opin-
the success obtained in the east, be-
cause the people are looking today to-
ward the west Hindenburg said. re-
garding this: Things 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.
;, sWith the insolence of a German
trooper. the commander of the German
armies, who. since the battle of the
Marine. has met with defeat in every
encounter with the French. said: France
nyxn 10 10
ly under the rule of England. If the
French treated less harshly our poor
war prisoners one would have more
pity for the unhappy fate of their
country
Ludendorff Quoted.
'Ludendorf added: We can now
pass to the offensive in the west If
this offensive is made it will be very
severe 1t must be taken into account
that the enemy has at its disposal a
strong reserve of many divisions, and
that it possesses fine network of rail-
ways for transporting reserves at a
point where they are considered neces-
oary. But one must not overlook the
moral factor. We are full of conf
eence and we remain persuaded that
the night in which we are to engage will
end happily for us
Z "Ludendorf said it was of inestina BILE
value to Germany to possess such a
general as Hindenburg. The marshal
interrupted him and observed: What
e essential is the good morale of the
German soldiers 1t is to them that
we owe our victory. I am convinced
that this morale is found throughout
The dispatch concludes with the fol-
lowing French comment:
Thus do those express them selves
who are at the present moment the
real heads of the German nation. Be
meath the apparent confidence their
words convey one can detect anxiety.
They know that on the west they will
come up against the victorious will of
the great democraces of the world
more formidably armed and determined
than ever
"Hindenburg could never achieve
success except on the east front He
mas always had great fear of the dis
Illusion which the west had in reserve
Tor him. However. it is possible that
the Germans are carefully conoea1inp
their plans in the hope Of deceiyins
their adversarres and upsettfnE public
opinion, but whatever happens the
allies are prepared. and nothing can
An official dispatch today from Bern
quotes Berlin dispatch as declaring
was the eastern question which was
me OBJECT OF Hindenburg's recent con-
ference with the emperor and the
chancellor. They discussed at the same
time Finland. Poland and Lithuania,
the Baltic provinces and Rumania The
statement next week on the situation
The government, it is declared. is oc-
Gupied with the result of conferences
held between the leaders of the POLISH
ectivist and delegates from the ma
torIty in the reichstag. At these con-
terences there was planned an econo-
mic and political alliance between Po-
and and the central powers and evan
The conclusion of a military conyen
ton. The new Polish states wouid he
unrelated to Prussian Poland and could
Expand in the east.
Oppose Union With CourIand.
The question of Courland also has
been studied The Vossische Zeitunr