Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-06

word in any language moro complete
and complacent example Of sclf-deception.
WHAT AMERICANS DID.
The Americans, he thinks, were princi-
pally valuable toward the end Of the war
in enabling the French and English, IN
quiet sectors, to be released for active
duty. 1t did not seem possible to him that
the submarines could fail to prevent, by
reduction of the allied tonnage, the quick
transport of American troops. He and
the German Navy were absolutely sure
that the aggressions of our troops could be
entirely prevented. He described the
American troops, when they did land, xs
youthful; the wonderful charge At
Chateau-Thierry resulted in "a German
victory" Their success on September ~
was entirely due to the failure of Ger
man reserve division, and TO the fact that
at another point their attack was met by
a division which, though brave one, WAS
Every battle-worn and had an extended
front to hold" He admits that President
Wilson's intentions were good, but by
false insinuations the Entente influenced
him to the detriment Of the justice-loving
military parity
He tells us that the Americans suffered
the heaviest losses when the pressure
against the German Fifth Army WAS un-
usually severe. He does not anywhere
though we may have missed it in the great
mass Of detail in these volumes -sllude
to the statement signed by Clemenceau,
Lloyd George and Orlando in July, IN
which these three Prime Ministers say:
THAT there is great danger Of the war
being lost unless the numerical inferiority
of the Allies can be remedied as rapidly
as possible by the advent of American
troops.2 General Foch had already pre-
sented his opinion that the numerical
superiority of Germany over France,
where I62 allied divisions now oppose
200 German divisions, is very heavy, and
there were no possibilities of the
British and French increasing their divi-
sions ION the contrary, they are put to
extreme stress TO keep them up)." This
was veritable cry of agony, for during
the first DAYS of June something akin to a
panic seized the city of Paris, and it was
estimated that 10000 people left that
city during the spring of 1918.
pERsHING NOT SATISFIED.
General Pershing, however, was not
satisfied with the plan arranged for
American participation. He WAS unwilling
that American troops should merely
assist" the French armies. He insisted
that distinct American army must be
formed. LudendorfT did not anticipate
that no other allied troops, except the
Americans. had the morale or the Of
fensive spirit to overcome successfully
the difficulties TO be met in the Meuse-
Argonne sector. General Pershing chose
the Me,Ise-Argonne front, and the wisdom
of his choice WAS proved by the event.
Ludendor4f explains in vague sort of
WAY the failure of the great German Of
fensive of 1918. beginning March u, but
thinks that the disappearance of the
French and British reserve seemed TO
Justify the opinion that the Allies were ex-
hausted. Nobody In Europe believed that
the new American troops could at once he
so available as TO prevent peace dictated
by Germany. Ludendorff WAS amazed ut
the rapidity with which the American
troopshipS answered the call Of the Allies,
and he did his best 70 assist in the sinking
of the American transports. Public
opinion in Austria-Hungary demanded
1t. he SAYS.
He finds hope IN the belief that the
enemies remaining tonnage for food sup
plies WAS so reduced that starvation would
soon force the Americans TO remain at
home; but still they camel And he finally
admits that France and the Entente would /
have suffered military defeat without the
help given by the United States. The
military party hoped that the knowledge
Of the potentiality of the Americans IN
preventing disaster 10 the Allies would so
strengthen President Wilson with them
shst he would be able TO maintain 'the
views which he had expressed IN the most
binding manner against England and
France" France, Ludendorff assumed,
could not remain long in the field If the
Germans would unite in forcing them
selves onward; there was nothing unduly
optimistic in his views. for France,
Serbis Belgium had held out. suffering
more than the Germans had ever suffered.
On October p Won Hindenburg. sup
ported by Ludendorff. approved OF a tele-
gram for the information OF all the Ger
man troops Ii declared that President
Wilson's answer was a demand for un-
conditional surrender. This made II url-
acceptable 10 the soldiers. IL ought 10
mean challenge 10 the German Army 70
continue its resistance with all ITS strength.
When our enemies know that no sacri-
fees will achieve the rupture of the Ger
man front, then they will be ready for
peace which will make the future Of our
country safe for the broad masses OF our
people" On this the Emperor concluded
himself had capitulated. and Ludendorff
does not attempt to conceal his contempt
for his own people, who have made them
selves, by the desertion of their Emperor,
outcasts among the nations, incapable Of
making allies. helots IN the services of
foreigners and foreign capital and deprlv-
ed of all self-respect ""Wha Germany
needs is men of the old school, not vulgar
towards who come forward and accuse
their country OF crimes In order to please
the foe and belittle themselves.
Ludendorff is lmplacable, and, however /
we may condemn his motives and ms /,
methods, We are forced TO admire that
unbending resolution and consistency I
which make him at present as good hater /
OF the subserviency of his own people as /
he was of the nations in the world who |
worked only in order that the greatest OF |
all countries, Germany, might be de- |
stroyed.
AS was said in the beginning Of this
article, Ludendorff's book is corrobora-
tion, not revelation; it has great value
for the future because il represents the /
real spirit of the German nation-a spirit !
which is as unconquerable as it was in the
Of 1914; which would have
owing to the deplorable un-
OF the European Allies, if /
the youthful soldiers of this Republic had |
not risen from the seeds of the dragon to I
avenge the arrogance and insolence OF q |
power which had been pampercd into
belief that il was omnipotent.
-----~>--~-----