Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-09-18
BY GEN. ERICH Won LUDENDoRFF

munition work might be carried out
more strictly.
The only increase in drafts that
received in the future was furnished
by prisoners of war returned from
Russia, General headquarters now
fell back on its own reserves of men,
and prepared its own drafts from the
troops of the eastern army and Ru-
mania, as well as from among the
technical arms and line Of communi-
cation troops. But these could not
suffice unless the government released
the reclaimed men and took energetic
action against deserters and skrim-
shankers.
Our troops had fought we'll; but the
fact that certain divisions had obvi-
ously failed to show and inclination
to attack in the plain of the Lys pro-
vided food for thought. However, in
that low-lying, intersected country 1t
had been so difficult to arrange
proper artillery support that this phe-
nomenon did not cause grave anxiety.
On the other hand the way in which
the troops stopped round captured
supplies, while individuals stayed be-
hind to search houses and farms for
food, We're serious matters This inn
poiiOu ShN'NoS anu Sho"Co pOOi biST
cipline. But it was equally serious
that both our young company com
manders, as we'll as senior officers, did
not feel strong enough to take dis
ciplinary action and to seize sufficient
authority to enable them to lead their
i men forward without delay.
Sorry Cruelty WaS stopped.
| The absence of our old peace-trained
corps of officers was most severely
felt. They had been the repository
of the moral strength of the army.
In addition, during the first half of
the war the reichstag had made the
penal laws more lenient. The com
manders responsible for maintaining
discipline were deprived of their most
effective punishment, in that SEN
tence of Severe arrest" no longer in
Ivolved being tied up to fixed object
No doubt this punishment was ex-
| traordinarily severe, and its execution
should not be left to the Juvenile and
| inexperienced company commanders
but to abolish it altogether was fatal
The alienation may have been tusti-
fable at the time, but now 1t proved
disastrous The frequent declarations
of amnesty also had a bad influence
on the men, The entente no doubt
achieved, more than we did wish its
( considerably more severe punishment
This historic truth is well established
Other evils in connection with the
administration of justice were also due
to the long war. The judges had
come to regard military Offences wifi
la leniency which was often incompre.
hensible. A contributory cause Of
this was that the cases which had oc'
Icurred at the front were not dealt will
immediately by the unit, but furthel
in rear IN quite different circum
stances and after certain time haC
elapsed.
Offenders Sent to- Front.
1t should have always heen remem
hered that there were many men IL
the army who deserved no mere,
whatever; of this the numerous desert
;ers and skrimshankers are mean
choly proof, These people requirei
( severe punishment; that was demand
I ed by the distress OF our country. blu
Ialso BY consideration for those wht
were well conducted and brave,
| Thank God. the latter were Away
in the vast majority. II one Of thes
men forgot himself. the confirming
! officer always had it in his power b.