Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-09-09
BY GEN. ERICH Won LUDENDoRFF
Copyright, 1919.
Hy the Press Publishing CO
1.-THE New York Evening World.l

foodstuffs caused great anxiety, and
so too did questions of morale. We
were not undermining the spirits of
the enemy populations with starva-
ton blockades and propaganda. The
future looked dark and our only
comfort was to be found in the proud
thought that we had hitherto sue
ceeded in defving the enemy superior
ity in numbers, and that our line was
everywhere beyond our frontiers.
Desperate Situation Forced Considera-
ton of Ruthless War.
The field marshal and | were fully
AZ one in this anxious view of of the
situation. Our conclusion was no sud-
den one, but had gradually grown
upon up since we took over our posts
at the end of August. 1916.
AS a result of our opinion the con-
struqtion had been begun as early as
September of powerful rear positions
in the west the S!egfried line. run
ming from Arras, west of Cambria. st.
Quentin. La Fere. Bailly-sur- Aisne, to
flatten the wide salient from Albert,
Roye, southwest of Noyon, Scissors,
Bailly -Aisne, in which the Somme
fighting had made large indentation,
and the Michael line. which lay to the
south of Verdun and in front of the
line Etain-Gorz, to cut off the salient
of ST. M.hiel.
These strategic positions had the
great advantage of shortening the
front and economizing forces, and
their occupation was prepared IN de-
tail Whether we should retire on
them, and how the positions would be
nGpI pf 1apiHaH in
September, 1876 the important thing
then was to get them built. This made
comprehensive measures necessary,
and l demanded heavy labor supplies
from home. These, however, only suf-
feed for the west, and corresponding
positions in the east had to be left
unbuilt.
The construction of positions. the
training of the army for defensive
warfare, and the enlistment of the
civilian population for war work con-
stituted weapons of war of the great
est importance. They were capable
of postponng the decision If the gov
eminent once succeeded in bringing
the people fundamentally into sup
port of the war, but they could never
lead to victory.
4 IiI lutuI6 was tuuS luii Va OboSui
ity, and the soldier could not reckon
on chances, so that the questions of
peace and submarine warfare became
of the highest importance. There
was the problem of obtaining peace,
the chance of defeat without unre-
stricted submarine warfare and the
possibility of victory by means of such
campaign. accompanied by an at
tack by our surface fleet and a defen-
sive war on land
The description unrestricted SUBJ
marine warfare is not wholly apt,
any more than is submarine warfare
without regard of consequences.
Eager for Wilson Peace Offer.
The chancellor was, in September,
1916, giving consideration to posi-
BILE negotiation for peace through
President Wilson. Many circles in
Germany were ill-disposed TO such a
step, since the attitude of benevolenee
adopted by the U. S. A. toward the
entente had raised increasing bitter
ness among us. and the government
could with difficulty disregard this
opinion.
The chancellor nevertheless pro-
posed to his majesty that instructions
should be given to Ambassador Count
Bernstorff to induce the president at
the earliest possible moment. and in
any case before the presidential cleo
ton at tie beginning Of November, to
T1g4A Rtyf KtE4T1gE