Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-10-27

alton. Is Germany ready to sue for
peace-not offer it? That is how the
question presents itself. Listen to the
answer.
| This answer comes from quarter
whence even yesterday it was the least
expected and in form aggravates its
astounding nature. 1t is the first Of
October. It is / o'clock in the after
noon. General Ludendorff sends for
the two liaison officers Of the chancel-
lery at great general headquarters,
Baron Won Grunau and Baron Won Lers-
ner. and says to them:
Makes Urgent Appeal.
II beg you to transmit an urgent
request with view to the immediate
dispatch Of our offer of peace. Today
/ the troops are holding, but one cannot
| foresee what may happen tomorrow.
| Half an hour later at 1870 p. m.
Marshal Hindenburg intervenes, and
referring to the report that new
chancellor will be appointed that even
| ing or the next day, says:
IF the formation of the government
| remains the least in doubt and IS not
| certain for this evening between Z and
o'clock, l am of opinion that it is
necessary this very night to send our
declaration to the foreign govern
ments."
At 2 o'clock the liaison officers CON
firm the preceding declarations. Baron
Won Grunau adds:
My impression is that everyone
here has lost his self control
He goes off to the emperor who
agrees with him that, in order to trke
steps for peace, it is necessary to
await till the new government has
been formed. But General Ludendorff
insists:
I'VE are still in honorable posture.
But our line may be broken through at
any moment and then our peace offer
will arrive at the most unfayorable
moment. / have the sensation Of play
ing game of chance. At any moment
and at any point, a division may fail
in its duty
Names Armistice Board
At 9 o'clock that night, he demands
that to the offer Of peace shall be add
ed request for the designation of the
point of meeting for the negotiation
Of the armistice. He even goes so far
as to give the names of the men who
will form the armistice commission in |
Guiding an Austrian and Turk. AT !
midnight he reiterates:
mtted Immediately from Berne to |
Washington. The army cannot wait !
another 4S hours |
Panic reigns. Events prove this: |
For the army. which according to the |
general cannot wait another As I
hours" will continue to fight without /
letup until November II. This panic
seems to be due to three reasons The
first is that the military situation, al 4
though not hopeless. is bad. The sec
ond is that the great general staff, SO
overbearing three months ago. is anx-
ious to share its responsibility with
civilians. The third is that like
many Germans the great general staff L
cherishes extraordinary illusions about
the terror Germany inspires, the weak
ness of President Wilson, the divi-
sions among the allies, and the nature
tain. Prince Max Of Baden-who that II
very evening had become chancellor of Il
the empire and head Of cabinet
chosen with the approval of the Reich
an avalanche Of alarmist
kilograms on taking up his duties.
He Becomes Indignant.
He becomes indignant and insists
upon getting information before taking
general staff-Major Won dem Bussche
explains the situation on October g
He is less pessimistic than his chief,
but reserved and embarrassed, on the
whole. far from reassuring. Among
other things he says: xa II
''The entente, by attacking along
the whole front, obliged Jig to scatter
our reserves. OF the divisions on the
eastern front which were intended for
the western front. seven were i'm
modified by the events in Bulgaria.
The enemy has placed in action great
many more tanks than was expected.
The German troops have fought well.
But the strength Of our battalions has
fallen to $40 men-and that despite
the breaking up for requirements of
y divisions, equal to &C regiments
No reinforcements are in sight The
allies. on the contrary, thanks to the
Americans, are in position to make
good their losses. The German army
s still strong enough to withstand the
enemy for months, to win local con-
,essions and to force the entente to
make fresh sacrifices. But the high
believes, rs far as man can
udge-there is no longer any posi-
'ility Of forcing the enemy to make
)eace."