The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-01-07
Kaiser Read Fate
in Marine Defeat

Berlin-Karl Rosner, former war
correspondent of the Lokal Anzeiger
and the kaiser's personal panegyrist
at headquarters, has written a new
book describing his impressions of the
kaiser during the tragic days of the
defeat and collapse of the German
army, which presents the ex-monarch
in far less flattering light than Ros-
ner's earlier fulsome descriptions.
One of the most interesting chapters
is devoted to the effect upon the kaiser
of the unexpected disastrous defeat
at the Marine in the July, 1918, cam
paign-when American troops played
such a decisive role, smashing the
fan kof the German salient at Sois-
sons.
The kaiser in that defeat correctly
read the loss of the war, probably the
fall of the Hohenzollern dynasty and
in scene which Rosner wildly de-
scribes turned upon General Luden-
dorff, hitherto the military idol of
headquarters rebuked him for the op-
timism which INSPIRED the fatal
Marine offensive and treated him with
cold reserve which presaged his later
downfall.
The kaiser hurried to Avesnes, head
quarters of General Won Hindenburg
and Ludendorf as soon as the news
of the reverse was known to learn the
details. The motor trip was of the
gloomiest nature. The kaiser rode in
dreary silence.
General Won Plessen, the kaiser's
personal adjutant and friend, appar-
emily affected less by the defeat itself
than the probable effect on the dynasty
declared that Won Hindenburg and
Ludendorff should never have permit
ted the kaiser to expose himself to
the risk of his personal prestige and
the monarchy by linking his name
with an offensive, launching it in his
majestys presence, unless absolutely
sure of the result.
Snubbed General Ludendorff
Finally Avesnes was reached, and
the kaiser grasped Won Hindenburgs
hand, whose first words confirmed the
tidings of disaster. your majesty has
seen much in these grave days; war
has shown its hard face" The kaiser
then greeted Ludendorff with a formal
Your exctllency," instead of the usual
"My dear general"
The kaiser then listened to Won
Hindenburg's account of the reverse
which the latter ascribed to the unex-
pected use of hundreds of whippet
tanks with machine guns, against
whoch the Germans had no defense
The emperor interjected the question
"Oour men failed us?" to which Won
Hindenburg replied that the resisting
power of the reserves southwest of
scissors had been overestimated, but
that the situation was difficult for any
troops.
Worried About His Prestige
"Will the new line hold; have you
thought of the effect of this for the
CROWN" was the tenor of the emper-
ors next remark, showing in what di-
rection his thoughts were turning.
Won Hindenburg's reply contained an
implied rebuke for the imperial self.
seeker Certainly the effects upon the
internal situation weighed heavily
upon hos heart, but his first ahought,
naturally, was of his military obliga-
and the attainment of the military
goal.
The field marshal then called upon
Ludendorff, whose first phrase caused
the discharge of accumulated imperial
displeasure and pain. "This distressing
surprise for the supreme command"
Ludendorff began, but the kaiser in.
terjected. $50 we regularly are sur
prised!" Ludendorff, disregarding the
interruption, continued, Lay not in
the counter-attack itself-we had to
expect that from the moment when our
attack east of Rheims stopped and en-
abled Foch to dispose his reserves
but in the failure of our first line to
hold, and consequently to extend the
enemys initial success" AS the de-
feated general continued to discuss the
possibilities of the situation, the
chances of forming and holding a new
line, Withdrawing the armies to safety