Evening star., 1923-11-12
VON KAHR BLAMED
FOR COUP FAILURE
Charged With Backing Out
After Promising Hitler
to Aid Revolt.
BY HIRAM X. MODERwELL.
by hsdio 70 The Star and the Chicago Dai


News. Copyright. 1928
BERLIN. November 1.-THE Hit
lerites' inside story" of why the
Munich revolution fizzled is contained
In an exclusive interview which the
writer has just had with Herr Won
Iraefe, leader of the extreme ma
tlonalist party in the reichstag, who
returned today from Munich.
Won Graefe asserts that Won Kahr
and Hitler had agreed entirely last
Wednesday that the nationalist revo-
tuition should be proclaimed on Fri
DAY. 1t was agreed that the north
German leaders should be summoned
to take part. but they were slow in
arriving. and Won Kahr appeared in
cIined to delay the proclamation. Hit
Ter. however. insisted that the pro-
gram should be carried out.
Won Graefe tacitly admits that Hit
Ter planned to force Won Kahr's hand
In order to hold him to his promise,
and implies that Won Kahr had no
right to regard this as double crossing.
This is what happened in the small
room of the Buergerbraue Berhall
Thursday, after Hitler entered and be-
gan shooting.
Won kahr Protested.
Won Kahr protested against Hit
ler's rash methods. declaring that the
shooting was frightening the au-
dience. He added this might create
the impression that he was being
forced to join the movement at the
point of a pistol. This. said Won
Graefe, is the true version, which Won
kahr sought to twist the next day by
asserting that he actually had been
forced into the movement
Hitler replied that Won Kahr need
not worry so long as he succeeded.
Then Won Kahr said he would keep
his promise and do his agreed part.
Gen. Won Lossow also consented,
whereupon Gen. Ludendorff was sum-
moned.
After the proclamation Won Kahr
and Won 1Lossow went to the govern
ment buildings, saying they were 60
ing to send circular kilograms to all
state employees. advising them of the
new government, and soon reported
that these kilograms had been dis
patched.
Rupprecht Alarmed.
Here comes gap in the story. 1t
is presumed that Crown Prince Rup-
precht of Bavaria. on hearing the
news, sent an urgent message to
kahr begging him not to desert and
go to the PruSsian side.
1t is also asserted that Cardinal
Faulhaber, the leading church digni-
tary in south Germany. who recently
voiced open opposition Of Hitler. eX-
erted pressure. In any event. by the
early morning hours Won kahr and
Won Lossow had changed their minds,
after a long conference with Capt.
kauttler, one of Capt. Ehrhardts
men.
Since Won Kahr was not sure of the
Munich garrison, he brought troops
from Ingolstadt. When news reach
cd Hitler and Ludendorff that Won
kahr had turned against them. they
decided to march against the govern
ment building. The local police, which
had been set to guard the building.
gave way, but the reichSWehr troops
within began firing volleyS.
I4udendorff was captured and taken
into the building. A rumor was start
ed that he had been shot in the stom-
ach. A large crowd of Hitlerites in
dignantly surrounded the building g
to see for themselves whether he had
been wounded. In order to avoid
bloodshed, Ludendorff then was lib
Grated.
LudendorfY's first words when he
was captured. according TO Won
Graefe. were:
II deplore the fact that I must sur
yive the day when German soldiers
fired on compatriots singing the
Watch on the Rhine" and marching
under the glorious old red, white and
black colorS"
Won Graefe declared Ludendorff did
not promise that he would refrain
from further participation in politics.
but merely promised that he would
remain in Bavaria pending trial. He
takes the stand that he merely placed
himself at the disposal of a. new gov
ernment already legalized by Won
Kahr.