The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-11-13
LUDENDORFF
IS SCRAPPED
AS BIG DUB
Able General, but Stupid
Statesman Is Has Been
in German Affairs,
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
Times Foreign Editor


XVII ASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-The
lWI man who once overshadowed
- even the Kaiser and came
near debating a German peace to the
whole world, today has shrunk to the
size of wtthered pea in a large pod,
probationer out of jail in Bavaria
like any dub conspirator.
This man is General Won Luden-
dorff, one of the most amazing
characters in all history. In a single
individual he combines one of the
ablest of generals Of all time and per
haps the stupidest statesman who
ever trod in shoe-leather.
His downfall with the "putsch" to
restore Germany to a monarchy is not
only sure sign the Germans, even
in their desperation, have not lost
quite all their sense, but proves a
general may be a genius, but is fore
doomed to failure if he is not a
human being as we'll
Ludendorff Is Prussian
Ludendorff is a Prussian of the old
n1ilitarist school, born and bred with
the idea the army is everything and
plain citizens nothing; that an officer
is a god and a common soldier just
ammunition to be fired at the enemy.
He was Field Marshal Won linden
burg's chief of staff at the victory over
the Russians at Tannenburg. So when
General Won Falkenhayne failed at
Verdun in 1916 and Hindenburg took
Won Falkenhayne's place, Ludendorff
became Hindenburgs first quarter
master general
At British headquarters in France l
used to hear staff officers refer to Luz
dendorff as 1.-The brains of the German
army" There were rumors, however,
that the Kaiser was extremely jealous
Of Hindenburg's popularity among the
people, and that a plot was on foot to
discredit him.
Engineered Russian Collapse
Ludendorff engineered the collapse
of Russia in 1917 and by February.
1918 he had worked out a similar de-
struction Of Italy so only the Western
front would be left facing him. And
he had a plan-you know what--for
that
It was perhaps in May Ludendorff
reached his zenith. The great March
offensive had been launched and. up to
May. German casualties had amounted
70 not more than 500 0o0-about a
third Of what Ludendorff himself had
told the Reichstag, in February, they
would be.
The Kaiser now stood in eclipse,
Ludendorfr's great machine was
grinding.
Finland. Latvia, Lithu a n a
Ukraine. Belgium. Luxembourg.
Roumania, Serbia and Montenegro
were already being groomed as vas
sal states Of Germany. and Meso-
potamis and Serbia were under Ber-
Inns eye. From the Baltic TO the
Indian Ocean. It would be Just one
Great German Empire and it would
be Ludendorff who would be the
creator of it. He would dictate the
reace and the world would pa-y-in-
Guiding the rich America
Then Tide Turned
Then the tide turned Ludendorff
had overlooked one vital thing: The
human equation. Almost stupid out
side things military, he was too
thick headed to realize that from the
start of the great offensive, Austria
and Hungary were cracking. Bulga
ria was weakening and Turkey break
ing up. Then he drove his troops Ike
slaves All of sudden. then, with
the entrance of the doughboys into
action, the whole beautiful bubble
burst.
In October. Lu5endorff, In panic. re-
signed. His sun had set then, but he
did not know it. From Bavaria he
plotted for the overthrow of the Ger
man republic thinking the handful OF
indictments about him represented
the whole Teutonic race clamortng for
his leadership.
THE tide has turned" he exclaimed
grandiloquently in the beer cellar the
other day when Hitler and he struck.
1t had. but only for Ludendorff. He
was arrested a few hours later Just
like any ordinary soap-box disturber
OF the public peace.