El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-10-01
LUDENDORFFS BOOKFULL OF JNHOLY
SPIRTTOFGERMANARMY

hard pushed hard fighting millions who were under his
command for the millions Of German dead As typi
cally Prussian Ludendorf shows himself in his heart
lessnsss as in his lying.
Again camoufaeing Ludendorf belittles the work Of
the American troops Remember that this book was
written mostly for German consumption and that Ger
high command had promised the German people, first
that unrestricted submarine warfare would hamstrng
allies; second that would keep America the war;
third. when America got into the war, that it would be
impossible to transport American army to Europe;
and fourth If Americas army got the field against
Germany It wouldn't amount to much anyhow because
of lack Of training Of materials and long dis
lance from supply base
So Ludendorff in this history of his refers con-
stanty to Gen Fochs troops but very very seldom to
the Americans who formed part Of Fochs command For
example, IN the fighting in July:
~our infantry had not stood firm at all points and
particular the division southwest of scissors that had
been considered reliable had given way The gap
widsned rapidly especially toward Scissors" Not hint
that Americans opposed the Germans here yet American
troops caved in the German lines depth Of from three
six niles sent back to the cages 1000 German prisoners
and captured 30 German guns.
Speaking in general way Of American participation
in the July f5-August battle, Ludendorff says:
@The six American divisions that had taken
part in the battle had suffered particularly heavily
without achieving any successes One division ap
pears 70 have been broken up in order to bring
them up to establishment. Notwithstanding the
galanrry Of the individual American soldier, the
inferior quality of the American troops is proved
BY the fact that two brave German divisions were
able to Withstand the main attack made by very
superior American forces for several days; and
these two divisions the 4th Ersatz and the 201st
I had up till then considered better than the
average
The Joker in this lies in the fact that not all SIX Ame
divisions engaged in front line opeTaOns that
fact, most of the troops in support; that the
Americans handicapped that time with respect to
material that the Germans lying the defensive in
heavily inrenched positions and finally that the German
divisions able to Withstand the American assault
only as Ludendorf himself puts it. @fOr several days
The German commander has not fit to tel his /
people that comparatively small number of American
Marines infantry and machine gunners, thrown pel nell
the Mane at the nth hour broke the advance
Of the Prussan Guard Chateau Thiey the Ger
Of Beleau Wood with French help and thus pro-
the wars pivotal point Nor has he told them that
the Americans willing to risk immense losses in order
change the from of position of movement
BY which process alone decisive advantage could be OBJ
ained broke through the German lines not at the weak
est point but the very strongest point in the Meusc
Argonne where the highly difficult nature Of the
terrain combined with the admirable enemy defence sys
ZEN 10 form positions nearly npTegnable the art
u nan could devise But the Americans broke through
The capture Sedan, behind the German defence
you'd have forced the abandonment Of the whole line
even If the srmistics had interviewed Luden
loft and his generals the humiliation Of surrender in
be field
This book Of Ludendorfff's is a story Of German de-
eat but remarkable thing about It is that it IS shot
Ill Of arrogance and the belief that the imperial forces
init for unit better than any Of their opPonents n
hat the German eeneraship better and that Ger
many was beaten by Of circumstances rather than
" force Of arms y
Superior sneering undaunted and defiant, Ludendouf
trough the medium Of his book breathes the unholy
pirt and the immortality Of the German imperial army.