New-York tribune., 1919-02-28
LudendOrff
Staged Revolt
In Germ any
Appeal Announcing Upris-
ing Prepared by Militar-
lists, 1t Is Nov Revealed
!Ncto York 7'ribune
Special CCole Ssyrfce

Special CCole Sercfce
tCopyrieht 1919. New York Tribune Inc)
PARIS, Feb. 26. - Frank Bohn. a
prominent American Socialist in close
touch with German Liberals in Switzer-
land and with exceptional sources cf
secret information, says that the Ger
man revolution was a piece of theatri-
cal manipulation by agents Of the mill
tarstic oligarchy to win ar armistice.
He writes:
The German revolution was planned
by Ludendorif, executed by his agents,
and brought to a successful conclusion
purely as a defensive military measure
at will be remembered, beginning
with the great Allied offensive in July,
that Ludendorff and the German gov
ernment became ever humber and as
sumed the camouhage of democracy in
q greater degree. From Erzberger it
came down to Prince Max, and finally
Scheidemann was taken into the Cabi-
net.
"All this brought no suggestion of
peace from the Allies On the contrary
even greater blows fell upon the re-
treating and dissolving armies of Ger
many. Then came the surrender of
Turkey and the victorious advance of
the Italians against Austria.
Defeat Was Foreseen
an October the German military
situation was desperate. To fight or
until December / meant military col
lapse and unconditional surrender and
Allied occupation of all Germany. In
that event the ancient regime had abso-
lutely no chance of coming back. The
Kaiser and Ludendorff would go the
way of Napoleon III and Marshal
Bazaine.
"What could be done? The answer
was that Germany must have a revolu-
ton On November l an official of the
German Legation at Berne put the
question to one of the German demo-
cratic exiles there The exile is one
who, to my knowledge, has served the
cause of German democracy long and
we'll and has my fullest confidence.
The legation official asked What, in
the opinion Of the German exiles, can
the Imperial government do in order
to secure an armistice y
'Ths was q most extraordinary pro-
cedure. Romberg, the German Min
lister, one of the most brutally AFRO
CANT men in the service of the Kaiser,
was the veritable keystone of German
propaganda in Allied countries, and the
group of German democrats were bit
terly hated by Romberg and the army
of officials and agents in Switzerland.
The legation official said:
owe feel certain you have connec-
tions with the Entente governments
We are willing to do anything, even to
the declaration of a republic'
"The exile replied Too late for in
his belief the time mad passed when
even the declaration of republic
would fool the Allies Two or three
days later came the revolt of the sail
ors at Kiel. 1t was the last straw. A
republic must be declared forthwith.
The question was, who should promul-
gate it, the mutinous sailors or the
trusted Socialist and Liberal agents
of Ludendorff?
Berlin Takes Quick Action
"Within an hour after the news of
the Kiel mutiny had reached grand
headquarters Schickele was recalled
from Berne to Berlin. Schickele had
been one of the c!everest propagandist
agents of the German system and had
long been employed in 'kultur propa-
ganda' service. The head of this de-
partment in Switzerland was Count
Kessler.
"Once in Berlin Schickele was not
long in pulling wires. There existed