The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-09


popular favor. He was, so TO speak,
, the new Siegfried. the mythical hero
OF Germany. come to life again. He
also was looked upon somewhat as a
reincarnation OF the Moltke of 1870 in
| military strategy. There was much
dispute as to which of the two was
really 1.-The great one" In the army.
as among the people. there were two
| opinions, but neither ever felt quite
certain. One could never come from
| general headquarters without the
| question being asked. do tell US,
which is the real genius?"
The two men were very different
| from each other. Hindenburg was
cold, distant. severe, but had the rcpu-
tauon of being just. ard was believed
| 10 bc we'll nigh iufaiiitie III military
| Judgment. His appearance was rough.
! his face looked as if it had been cut
out OF an oak tree with a dun axe.
He had the typical square head
which could easily be drawn with four
lines. He had small pig eyes deeply
set. The dominant note In his face
was grim, ironlike Will and deter
minat!on to the point OF brutality,
especially when in repose, but that
expression was greatly modified when
he spoke. In manner he was short
brusque, but seldom unkind; in
speech, terse and laconic. He was
| at that time regarded not only as a
| great military leader but also sort
Of patriarchal father of his people.
Ludendorff is more than fifteen
years younger than Hindenburg. The
| former has finer head and a more
intellectual face. He has rather large
| Dubious eyes in contrast to linden
burg's deep set small eyes. Ruthless
| forcefulness, the forcefulness of the
masttff rather than the tenacity of
the bulldog, is the dominant note IN
| his face.
Terse and laconic rs Hindenburg
was, Ludendorff was even more ST.
lent. Hindenburg would upon occa-
sion talk, Ludendorff seldom. At that,
| he had qualities which rendered him
more companionable and likable. He
could be very sympathetic and was
warmly temperamental. had keener
and quicker mind. was cxcitable and
at times "blew up" when things went
wrong. He was a thinker, schemer
and planner,
| His face. much moro sensitive than
that OF Hindenburg's, often reflected
his thought, while that of the old Field
Marshal was always sphinxlike, Capt.
Caemmerer, now dead. then personal
adjutant to Hindenburg, once summed
up for me the two currents of opinion
running in headquarters regarding the
two men.
I'VE worship Hlndenburg, but we
love Ludendorff," he said.
The Two Leaders Compared.
In action Hindenburs was conser-
vative, cautious, deliberate and slow
He weighed things carefully. Luden-
dorff was aggressive. forceful. impetu-
Gus. eager and impatient. One had
the impression, and that impression
was often strengthened by men at
headquarters. that OF the two he was
the thinker, originator and conceiver OF
plans.
Hindenburg tested, weighed, cx-
aminod. passed upon and approved ol
disapproved them. Ludendorff was the
dynamic power, the driving forco and
the inspiration: Hindenburg was the
balance. the control, the brake wher
necessary. and the hand on the throt'
tie. Every morning about 1880 Luden-
dorff came to IIindenburg with the
nights reports, his suggestions ant
new plans. The Field Marshal passet
upon them. approved, modified OF
added his own ideas.
There was a strong streak of Teu
tonic fatalism in HindenburG. Wha
God decreed would be and was good
Ludendorfr tried to leave nothing L
chance. The Field Marshal had n sol
dier's contempt for politics. "Wha
more can they give me?' he once sait
to me. When l suggested the Chan
cellorship. he answered brusauely, Z"
would not thank them for that"
, He declared he had no further am
lNtions. Ludendorr, on the other hand