New-York tribune., 1920-03-15
Revolution to.
Decide Future
OF Ludendorff
Failure of Coup That He
Is Credited With Organ.
izing Would Mean His
End as Political Power
BY Arthur S. Draper
rom The Tribmne's Eeropeam Bureau

FROM The Yr1bune's EurOpean Bureau
Copyright, 1920. New York Tribune lnc)
LONDON, March l4.--If the new Ger
man revolution succeeds, General Erich
Ludendorff will emerge with much Of
the power he enjoyed in the winter and
spring of 191718, in the opinion of
observers here. On the other hand, if
President Ebert succeeds in resisting
the attempt to overthrow him, Luden-
dorff, it is thought, will be thoroughly
discrcdited and never again viii rise TO
position of authority in Germany.
1t is reported that Ludendorff is the
real organizer of the revolution, and
some foundation for the report lies in
the fact that his arrest, together with
Won Hindenburg's, was ordered last
week by Minister Noske, although both
evaded the governments agents.
1t is suggested here that Ludendorff
overes stimated the power and influence
Of the agrarian forces of Prussia, who
are the principal forces behind the
revolution.
Allies Are Not Alarmed
The leaders of the Allied nations
are watching developments closely
and apparently see no cause for i'm
mediate alarm. The Allies, it is be-
lieved here, could not possibly recog-
nize any government made up of
Junkcrs and Pan Germans, many of
whose names were on the list of those
demanded for trial by the Allies for
violations of the laws of war.
The belief here is that the revolu-
tion is only flash in the pan and that
intervention by the Allied powers will
not be necessary. A reactionary Ger
man government would find the Allies
prepared to carry out most drastic
policies and the country could expect
little leniency in the interpretation
Of the terms of the peace treaty. In
directly the revolution is considered a
test Of the Allied policy toward Ger
many.
The revolutionists banked heavily on
the hope that the dissatisfaction with
the high cost of living, the uneven
exchange rates, the shortage Of food
and raw materials and with other
problems would bring many sup
porters, but evidently the mass of the
German people prefer to tackle these
things under republican leadership,
which has been tried and tested, than
to trust themselves to the manage
ment of new regime.
Coup May Unite Socialists
Perhaps one effect of the revolution
will be to draw together the majority
Socialists and the Independents who
have drifted further and further apart
since the bloodspilling Of January 13,
| for which the Independents hold Min
lister of Defense Noske chiefly respon-
sible.
Under the original terms the Ger
man army was ordered reduced to 2OO.-
600 men by March 81, but on February
Is the Supreme Council agreed to ex-
tend the date until April 20 and the re-
duction by another 100000 until July
20. Under present circumstances it is
unlikely that the Germans will fulfill
their obligations even under the
amended treaty.
This may furnish a test case for the
Allies, who might not care to inter
vene in internal affairs, but have every
reason to see that Germany lives up to
her treaty obligations. whatever her
government.
The question is whether the present
or any government could preserve or
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