Great Falls tribune., 1921-10-27
CHAPTER XI.
Ludendorff Panic Stricken

From August Il to September 20,
events both political and military were
to disturb these hopefu. expectations.
T q. local successes" did mot come
Oft. on the contrary five times in
five weeks the allied forces advanced.
The Franco British attack which near
Amiens throws back the Germans to
their old chaulnes- -Ribecourt front.
The Franco British attack from the
eighteenth to the twenty sixth of Aug
ust reaches the Bapaume-P Perrone-
Nesles Noyon line. The Franco Brit
ish attack which from August 80 to
September 10 throws back the enemy
from the Vesie to the Aisne and farth-
er north almost to the Hindenburg
line. The Franco-British attack which
from September Is to % pierces this
line between Cambria and Saint
Quentin The Franco American at
tack which from September Il to Is
reduces the St. Mihiel salient. BY
September 20 the enemy has lost near
ly all the ground he had gained from
March to June. His forces have se-
verely suffered He has engaged 1853
divisions of which IS have been in line
two or three times. He still has 68
than in June. To keep up the effectives
of these units in the absence of suffi-
cient reinforcements, he has had to
break up Is divisions and use them as
requirements.
Political Difficulties Begin
At the same time political Difficult
ties have begun. On the evening of
the fourteenth of August and on the
fifteenth at Spa. the Emperor Charles
of Austria and Count Burian, ex-
pressed the opinion that direct over
lures for peace should be made as
soon as possible. We have noted the
decisions arrived at by the German
crown council on the fourteenth. The
kaiser, the chancellor. the generals
protest against the suggestion of their
allies They hold that such step
should only be taken later on and that
then it should be taken through neu-
tral channels and not directly. The
Austrians departed uneonvinced and.
on the twenty-first, telegraphed a
plan for a direct appeal to the bellig-
erents after having tried to obtain for
this plan the support of Bulgaria and
Turkey. Excitement runs high in
Berlin and at Spa. The discussion
continues three weeks. From Septem
ber 3 to 5, Won Hintze and his under
secretary of state, Won Stumm, go to
Vienna to preach resistance. They
seek delay-at least till the German
army shall have finished the strategic
withdrawal which is under way. Hin
denburg intervenes on the tenth with
n telegram disappearing the Aus
full to our arms and to our peoples"
On the other hand he accepts "the
Intervention of neutral power with
view to an immediate negotiation"
Note the change compared to the de-
cisions of August IA. Direct pro-
posals of peace will not be made. but
neutral will be asked to suggest it
The Austrians persist.
in their idea and on Sep
tember 13 launch their note.
Germany Seeks Neutral
Germany. at the same time. seeks
the neutral who will undertake the
mission. The search is long and vain.
On September 21. Ludendorff tele-
graphs from the great general head.
quarters that it might be possible to
Ret in touch with the United States.
It is a confused and anxious period.
Anxiety and confusion are made worse
On the twenty sixth by news that Bull.
yaria intends to conclude separate
peace. Germany decides to send troops
here. But it is already too late and
Dn the twenty ninth the Bulgarian
armistice is signed at Salonica. Chan
,ellor Won Hertling had declared on
September 3 at the council Of ministers:
I'VE must say to our enemies, You
see that yol cannot beat us but
We are always ready as we have told
rou unequivocally on several occasions
70 conclude peace full Of honor"
The succession Of allied victories. the |
manifestations, the Bulgarian |
armistice completely JaanKe this situ-