The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-10-03
suKN. ERICH Won LupENpoRrr

0EN. ERICH Won LUDEND0RFF
Our position was now so serious
(eariy In September. 1919 that
q. II. q. could not hope that air
raids on London and Paris would
force the enemy to make peace. Per
mission was therefore refused for
the use OF particularly effective
incendlary bomb. expressly design.
ed for attacks on the two capitals.
Of which sufficient supplies were
ready In August
The large amount OF damage that
they were expected 10 cause would
no longer have affected the course
Of the war. and sheer destructivcness
had never been permitted. Count
Hertiing. too. had requested q. III. q.
not 20 use these new incendiary
bombs on account OF the reprisais
on our own towns that would fol-
low. My views OF tho general mill
tary situation. however. were the
real ground for the decision.
retained the policy OF ordinary
>aids on London and Paris. In order
60 immohiiixe enemy anti-aircraft
material. and TO prevent the troops
noticing the reduction In our
strength. but / no longer prcssed
matters. Only one or two more
small raids were made on Paris.
while London could not at this time
- reached. owing to adverse weather
! Gpnditions.
was constantly highly exercised
In my mind with regard TO the
morale of the army and the people at
home. On the visit OF the minister
for war TO Avesnes In August. ! had
officers from the front introduced 20
him with view to convincing him
Of the bad influence exercised by
the home population on discipline.
He and other leading men In the
var ministry had always refused TO
realize this. or. at least. It's fun
significance. The visit bore no fruit.
IN spite Of all my earnest representa-
lions 10 the minister.
In the interior our attempt 70 I'm
prove the morale of the people by
means OF propaganda never got be
yond the initial stages After my
t1se chancellor had at last. In August.
1918. decided to create central
bureau for press and propaganda
purposes. both at home and aboard
"a did not rank above the depart
ments Of the imperial government.
but was attached 10 the foreign OF.
ice. an unhappy appendage devoid
o. real authority.
ms PROPAGANDA
DCHEME
~ had to content myself with
1chieving this much. for I could get
nothing else done.
Ny constant proposals and suEgcs-
l6sns, repeated time and time again.
bo6h verbally and In writing. for the
eppointment Of m imperial minister
- propagand&. met with no re-
Spouse: nobody bat . minister or
oerressry Of state. who could see In
~ proper perspective the entire mill
tsFy. political and economical situ-
neIon. could wicid the mighty weapon
- propaganda In the manner de-
manded By the war and the hour.
He alone would have been. able 10
decide when. where and by whit de-
partment n public official statement
should be made. He would have
to work on a carefully prepared sys-
tenn.
Colonel Won Haeffen. who occupied
= leading position In the newly Great
ID central bureau. took great pains
20 achieve something. Secretary of
gtate Soif did indeed make one ef-
fective speech on his advice. The
chanceilor's speech on his birthday.
early In September. was very feeble.
The vice chancellor spoke. too. but
his words were not telling ike those
Of Clcmenceau. when German troops
were within 80 kilometers OF Paris.
Later. Colonel Won Haeften's sug.
gestions TO the new chancellor,
Prince Max Of Baden. did not re-
suit in any more propaganda work
being done. although II was par
ficulariy necessary in so serious a
situation.
Tension was high on the Western
front II had increased since our
first peace suggestions Of the middle
of August. We still had reason TO
hope that we would maintain our po-
sition; in Italy and Macedonia our
TANKS and rear were covered.
= There was, however. no longer any
chance Of q victorious issue. On Sep
tember we answered to this effect
an inquiry from the chancellor,
which was prompted by his repre-
sentative at q. II. O., Count Linn
burg Stirum, after he had been in
formed Of our intention to withdraw
10 the Siegfried line. Count Limburg-
Sfirum was invariably kept inform
ed Of all events.
The inquiry rather surprised me.
because. ever since August 10 the
chancellor must have been fully
acquainted with the situation; the cx-
PLANTATION was, however, that Count
Ilimburg Stirum knew nothing OF the
discussion Of August 10 and IL.
@. II. q. had no news from Secre-
tary Won Hintze; all they knew was
that he was 20 go TO Vienna at the
beginning of September TO confer
with Count Burian about peace. I
considered that a further discussion
with him and the chancellor was
urgently required. II would have. 10
be held in the first days Of Septsn.
Der, Immediately after our return 20
Spa. Secretary Of State Won Hintze
arranged to attend as soon as he
should return from Vienna, but his
great age prohibited the chanceilor's
attendance.
DIsAGREEs
WITH AUSTRIA
The discussion in Spa with secre-
fary Won Hintze was held on Septem.
Der 3 or 0. He Informed us that