The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-04-05
.LUDENDORFF 3TfrrS
HOW IT WAS
German Quartermaster Says
He Saw Troubles Coming
in August and
cEPMANS WERE ITCKEnl
GERMANS WERE LICKED

Berlin, April 5.-One of the Ber-I
lin newspapers today prints extracts
from the forthcoming book written
by General Ludendorff, former first
quartermaster general of the Ger
mans
Gen. Ludendorff says the defeat of
the Germans on August Tin the
Franco-British offensive near Albert
and north of Mont Didier). finally
resulted In the Germans losing hope
of military victory. Conferences
were held with Chancellor Won
Hertling, Admiral Won Hintze, the
foreign minister, and Field Marshal
Won Hindenburg on August IA, 15
and 16, and there also was meeting
of the Crown Council cat which I
clearly stated that the war could no
longer be won militarily," says Lu-
dendorff.
At the beginning of September the
supreme army command again invit-
ed Won Hartling and Won Hintze to
Spa, Ludendorff adds. Won Hertling
excused himself from attending on
account of his advanced age.
-"I opposed Baron Burian's step
for peace on account of its vague
ness, but favored an immediate
peace step in some FORM" Luden-
dorf says. (Burian was the Austro-
Hungarian foreign minister. and
constantly was sending out peace
feelers.)
s'The supreme command" Luden-
dorff continues, chad an idea of
mediation by Holland. On Septem-
ber renewed discussions between
Won Hintze, Won Hindenburg and
1 myself were followed by report
/ to the Kaiser Won Hintze was the
first to allude to a change ON inter
nal grounds.
eI then spoke as follows: We
must now act energetically on the
armistice and peace questions. The
entire situation Europe may under
go a change to our disadvantage.
The western front may at any time
have to withdraw further, and the
worse our military situation becomes
| the harder will be the conditions.
"On the arrival of President Will
| sons note I came to Berlin and sub
mitted the following question to Won
Hertling:
Firstly: Is the German people
willing to fight on? Secondly:
| What is the German governments
estimate of the Bolshevik danger,
which I take very seriously? Thid-
ly: Isr the Ukraine necessary for
our provisioning?
The second note to President Will
son was also sent in agreement with
i the supreme army command. The
answer to it clearly showed that
President Wilson no longer had the
power to oppose the entente demands
For the reply to the note the Chan
cellor again invited me to Berlin.
| stThe military situation was un
changed. In the west, however
there was a consolidation and this
circumstance, in conjunction with
the declaration made by the wal
minister within measurable periot
give the supreme command 600,00l
men, made the situation appear suc1
that we need not surrender unless
conditienally to President Wilson.
/ 'I emphasized the necessity O.
replying to the note in a dignifiet
tone, with due regard to the EN-
pire's interests. An abandonment
of the, U-boat war could not be con
sidered. Admiral Scheer (forme
chief of the German admiralty staff
spoke in the same sense. This con
ception also continued to be held TO
some days in the war cabinet. DR.
Solf (former foreign minister) how
ever requested Count Wolff-MetteT
mich and others to create NOR
yielding atmosphere. Success fell t
So1f. The U-boat war ceased an,
the path to capitulation was trodder
Won Hindenburg Immediately pro
tested against this and proposed a
appeal to the nation.
Il Kaiser Was Ready to Quit
III ''It was clear from President Wi
! sons third answer that our oppo
: nonta xUarfad m desfrov no v0