New-York tribune., 1920-02-01
The End in the West

In 1918, after Brest-L'tcvsk. Ger.
many's only hope lay in q victory in
the West LudendorF contributes
little that is new to the story Il ths
great peace Offensive" He in6j.
Gates that his main strategical Oh.
jective was the Channel coast rather
than Paris. he would have pra-
ferred TO begin his campaign in ths
Lys Valley, instead os tona ard
Amiens. But conditions Of terrain
IN March prevented this. lie n
tended to renew the April offensive
IN Flanders, if the July 5 operation
for Rheims and Chalons had sue
ceeded. Taking the British bases
on the Channel, ne figured. would
destroy the possibility of an Allied
attack through 1918. Il might also
have led to al evacuation of Paris.
Foch's offensive Of July u, 1918.
undoubtedly took Ludenaortf BY
surprise. It's success threw him def
nitely back on the defensive And
2 defensive under such circun.
stances could not tut cause IN
enormous strain on German morale.
luaendorff says that after AUGUST s.
when his Montdidier- Amiens front
gave way. ne ceased to hope for
German victory. But in spite of The
reverses OF the next SIX weeks he
remained confident that he I'D
still continue the war in the West.
The collapse OF Bulgaria shook
his contidence. He himself forced
the German appeal for an armisuce.
Or September % he told Aiaden-
burg that negotiations must begin.
Won Hintze, the Secretarg Of State
for Foreign Affairs. was summoned
to Spa. The decisive interview oc-
CURED on September % It was
decided to make a peace offer 10
President Wilson. The Kaiser was
Immediately Informed Of this con-
clusion. He gave his assent. He
also assepted to Hintzes suggestion
shat the principle Of the Chaacel-
lor's responsibility to the Reichstag
be recognized Hertling now re-
signed and Prince MAJ. of Baden
came in.
LudendorY had sent staff off,
Ger, Major Baron Won dem Busscha
to Berlin to explain to the Reichstag
leaders the necessity Of asking for
cessation of hostilities This en-
voy's remarks caused a violent sem
satlon. It started the civil govern
ment on the road to peace at any
price
Ludendorff had no political per-
ceptions. He retained the illusion
that the path toward peace could be
retraced if the Allies should show
a disposition to impose ruinous
terms. AS the negotiations proceed
ed and President Wilson'S demands
stifened, he began 70 hedge He
wanted the new parliamentary gov
ernment to take a frmer tone in It's
replies. This the minister declined
to do. A submissive note was sent
to Washington on October % over
Ludendorff' protest.
On October "a came the Hinder
burg circular to the troops, de-
nouncing President Wilson's pre-
posals. LudendortF and Hindenburg
went to Berlin on the 25th to urge
the government to break of the ar
mistice discussion and continue the
war. They talked TO deaf ears. The
peace party in the Reichstag row
demanded LudendorTs resignation.
The Kaiser summoned him on Octo-
Der 26 and relieved him Of his posi-
The next day the government prae-
tically threw itself on the Entente's
mercy.
William II was still intent onl-
on saving the dynasty. But he was
also chershing an Illusion In his
bitterness after his dismissal Luden-
dorff blurted out the truth 20 the
members of his staff, saying THAI
IN fortnight there would no longer
be Kaiser in Germany" After
the revolution the deposed military
leader went to Sweden to write his
memoirs. They are full Of rancor,
are controversial and are strongly
colored- Yet they are also a con-
tribution of great Importance to the
literature of the war.