The New York herald., 1922-02-26

COpWtJNt, I9SE, OU IHE NEW iORK f1EhALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Berlin, Feb. IS.
"Germany's hero of iron will and
steel nerves-Gen. Ludendorff-wasi in
reality a man of shifting instability
whose indecision and inability to think
consistently cost the fatherland the
peace of understanding" writes Prof.
Hans Delbrueck.
The noted war historian and the
successor of Prof. Treitsche at the
University of Berlin, has just finished
a book attacking Gen. Ludendorff.
which is expected to diminish the
reputation Of the German General,
which has been on the wane since
Ludendorffs role in the Kapp rebel
lion. became known.
Excerpts from the book appearing
in the Berlin press are entitled "Lud-
cndorff's Self Portrait" and consist
largely of evidence contained In the
Generals own recent book and new
war revelations, which have appeared
lately in Germany and abroad. Prof.
Debrueck characterizes as probably
real" the crisis in Germany when the
Crown Council was held in Berlin,
september II, 1917, few weeks after
the famous peace resolution was
adopted by the Reichstag.
"Deciding BcIgium's Fate"
Here was to be decided the fate of
belgium Won -Hollweg had
known that without q clear promise by
Germany to set Belgium wholly free
England could not be won over to nego-
tiatc and peace was impossible. Kuehl-
mann then Foreign Minister, stood for
this thess in the September Crown
Council and opposed Ludendorff He
modified his demands somewhat but in
sisted that Liege must be annexed and
such pressing economic structures placed
on Belgium that she herself would seek
political union with Germany.
The decision was left to the Khiser,
who decided both for Kuehlmanh and
I.udendorff. The Foreign Minister was
Ia have carte blanche as to Belgium but
with Ludendorff's reservations.
The final consequence. says Prof. Del
l.>ueck, was a failure of the hopes OF
mediation. He believes that Ludendorff
wrote his last book for several purposes,
one being to dsprove the charge that he
was checkmated by the Foreign Office
in his attempts to make peace. Luden-
dorff flatly says that on the Belgian
question he yielded to the Kaiser's $
wishes.
But Prof. Delbrueck has unearthed a
telegram sent by Hindenburg to Chan
ccllor Mchaelis a few weeks after the
September meeting. complaining because
reports had become current that the
Council had abandoned Belgium and
adding that "alI that was relinquished
was the permanent possession OF the
Flanders coast in the event peace could
bo made before Christmas and the Eng
llsh would get out OF France"
Ludendorff also tries to show that a
peace of understanding never had been
possible To this Prof. Delbrueck cites
proof to the contrary offered by Luden-
dorff himself, for the General admits
that in 1918 he was willing to fight on
until the enemy should be willing TO
grant acceptable terms. And II this
could be In 1915" argues Prof. Del
brueck when Germany was nearly ex-
hausted, It must have been truer IN
1917. whom the Allies were disheartened
and Germany was strong"
When Ludendorff wnvercd.
was Gen. Ludendorfr for annexa-
tions or against annexations? He was
for neither nor did he stand between
these two views. He wavered back and
forth and did not know himself what he
wanted. He let himself be Influenced
from one standpoint to another. His
famous force OF will had deserted him.
IT was still there, but It discharged
itself In mere violence. Ludendorff's 8
yvavering was not a reflex OF changing
situations, but ths reflex OF influences
which reacted on him now with one and
now with another effect.
I'm what superior position would Ger
many have found herself II she had
sought peace on the basis Of a status
quo ante! Who would ever have ven
tured TO attack n nation which had
saved herself IN the face or such tre-
mendous odds? o.
Ludendorff held to his attitude on the
Belgian question as late as August.
1918, and this attitude and his over
throw of Won Bethmann-Hollweg were
two of three disaster producing errors
Prof Delbrueck charges against him.
The third is the offensive In the summer