Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-09-06
PUTS PARALLEL BEFORE
AMEItINCANS.

Won Hindenburg asked with much
. interest il President Wilson was not
Commander i'll Chief Of our land and
, naval forces and therefore at least
nominally responsible for the cam
paigns determined upon.
How would the American people
feol if after a disastrous war the vic
, tors demanded the giving up Of tho
,, Pres, the army leaders and other
oificcrs?" he demanded. Just as the
,, American people would feel so do the
German people feel today except
those who have lost all love OF coun
try and do not believe in having a
country"
! touched upon the devastation Of
France attending his retreat from the
San Quentin line. "a deplorable mill
tary necessity" was the terse reply.
lie added: ....s
What would the rcopic Of your
North have thought il the South had
, been victorious Ill the civil war ana
, the ConiouCrates had demanded the
| surrender OF General Sherman Tor
his devastation i'll the famous march
TO the sea-"
! How about the mistreatment of
priSoners?' l asked.
IL there is to be an investigation
OF that" he replied, then to be fair
and just it should not be one sided,
! but should cover both sides in the
war"
Turning he picked up Il volume of
sworn aiiidavits and official reports
alleging mlstreatment OF German pris
oners and said:
10cad that. 1t makes ones hair stand
on end to learn what incredibly in
human treatment some Of our peole
were subjected to in some of your
prison camps"
The Field Marshall recalled our
last meeting, in December 1916, on
which occasion l had warned him
against Understanding America as
factor il she were drawn into the
war. At that time both Won Linden
burg and General Ludendorff remark
cd that the United States could not
possibly raise and equip an army in
time to take an effective part in the
war.
PRAISES EFOMTS OF AMERICANS
'The achievement of your coun
try was colossal--ycs, truly colossal
. to stamp such an army out of the
ground,' he said ~frankly. There was
Il note of unmistakablc admiration
in hiG voice.
1ou Americans may have an Cd
portunlty soon Of showing just how
great peace angels you are" he re
marked, referring to ceplain III, VS.
dispatches.
Then you do not believe that this
VIII be the last war? I asked.
The Field Marshall burst out laugh
ing. "Only dreamers believe that
was the answer.
Ihcn you do not believe the Leag
ne of Nations will render wars i'm
possible? I persisted. -
$50 long as mankind exists there
will be wars" he replied. There may
be fewer wars, but no great people
VIII ever submit questions Of nation
al honor or national existence to q
tribunal OF other people,, or will &C
cept an unjust Judgment dictated by
interest or might without a test of
strength. Certainly this peace gives
mule encouragement to hope that
wars may end"
VIII Germany ever come bact?''
I asked.
"The German people will rise
again." declared the Field Marshall
with conviction in his tone. But il
VIII not take place in my day." he
added.
rhen turning to Captain Won Hin
denburg of the General Staff, who
mad been silent listener to the con
vnrsation he said:
My son will sec it. Although he
has been with the shock troops
throughout tho war God has spared
him to mo, perhaps that he may see
the day denied to me when Germany
snail rise again." He added: "Be.