The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-09
} FIELD
MARSHAL
Won
MACkENSEN
g BY
UNIVERSAL
PRESS
- SrNDiCATE
~ +

momentary expectation OF news OF the
fall of Bucharest could not dispel. Only
later did learn that already then the
question Of a renewal of the ruthless
submarine campaign was in the bal
ance.
We had been discussing what in
effect were the possibilities OF the ap-
proach Of the dusk Of the German war
gods and the shattering of their Wal
halla of militarlsm. in the very heart
OF which we sat that evening. Only
we clothed our thoughts in more polite
terms with due Difference to them as
my hosts and to me as their guest.
Earlier In the evening l had a chat
with Hindenburg in his workroom in
the division of operations of the Gen.
eral STAFF. located in what had been
the administration building OF the big
estate. There also he inscribed his
name and the date OF my visit in my
autograph album. He invited me to
dine with him and Ludcndorff at his
living quarters IN the house ~ the
superintendent OF the estate.
The Kaiser lived in the unpreten-
/ tious schloss or palais OF the Prince
OF Pless with the owner as his guest.
II was an ugly pile Of red brick. Cen
eral headquarters was $50 miles from
the nearest point on the eastern mr.
ing line and about 800 from the west
ern front. It was free from that
abomination OF all denominations
aerial attacks. Nothing will so quickly
transform the saintliest Christian into
a curs!ng heather with a flow OF
profanity that would make a mule
driver green with envy as persistent
attacks by the cavalry Of the air
upon tired and worn out soldiers and
officers.
Hindenburg Misjudged America.
Ludendorff had started the discus
| sion that evening by asking whether
there was any likelihood OF the United
| States joining the Allies against Ger
many. Copying his own tactics. had
answered with question: Did Ger
| many intend to renew the ruthless
submarine war, condemned by all the
world? Ludendorff looked past me &c
! Hindenburg on my left with that def
erence to his chief which he always
! showed In the presence OF the old
| Field Marshal.
One could never tell what might de-
velop in war; war was full OF sur
prises, remarked Hindenburg eau
tiously. There was no desire. no pres
ent Intentions. to renew tho unre'
stricted U-boat war. "Unless we are
forced to do It," here quickly inter
posed Ludendorff. I did not know
what the situation was in America
except for what I had read. but
supposed Ludendorff's expression COW
cred it-"unless we are forced in"
Hindenburg said he did not wish t
say anything that might offend my
feelings, "but America to all intenti
and purposes is already the enemy o.
Germany" His resentment Of what h
called "America's unjust attitude
cropped out several times. but he wa
not as brutally frank as Field Mar
shall August Won Mackensen, who II
the taking of Przemysl in Galicia OF
June 4, 1915, ordered me to be out o
the Jurisdiction OF his army by II
the afternoon because "as a matter o
principle want no Americans arount
me" Mackensen was the origina
anti-American high commander in tn
| hiib t~'' -
tocrats.
mo one questions Americas vas
resources in men, money and material
hut to weld them into fighting ma
chine takes time-years,' remarked
Ludendorff. "See how long German,
has been at IT,"
That was the total error OF the Ger
man war gods 1t showed that the.
did not have the attribute Of militar,
omniscience so often credited TO then
Turning to Hndenburg 7 asked hin
what he knew OF revolutionary &C
tivity in Russia.
IT am tired OF hearing OF revolution
in Russia" he answered brusqueiy. "
don't believe in It. Since the first da,
OF the war have heard nothing bu
revolution in Russia and there ma
been none.
i Wrong About Russia Also.
IT don't believe there will be an
until the war is over. Russia Is
vast and so loosely organized In tn
way of communication and transports
tion--it has no real Nervous system