Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-08

not take at full value the estimates of condi-
TONS present and future made by their agents
in Germany.
As the armistice terms were being drawn,
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig warned against
pressing the Germans too hard. He did not
agree with Gen. Petain and Gen. Pershing that
they would take what terms the allies imposed,
but it is doubtful If until the last moment even
these two realized the real condition of Ger
many.
Spy reports saying so had been considered
exaggerated But this time the cry of wolf was
justified Here are few paraphrases of such
reports:
"July Q, 1918-General political reports from
Germany all agree that matters will soon come
to climax, the seriousness of which should not
be underestimate.
August II, 1918-Lately the German people
seem preparing for the defeat of the German
Army which, it is the general opinion, cannot
Withstand the great superiority of the American
Army. Nobody thinks longer of victory.
THE middle classes look upon the interven-
ton of America in the war as meaning the de-
struction of the German people. The working
classes however, secretly speak of deliverance
by the Americans and hope that mihtarism
will be overwhelmed this Winter.
"September-German soldiers sell the clothes
of their own dead comrades. They cut the
leather of saddles and harness to pieces to sell
as re-soles for shoes. Wounded German SOL
diers sell their shoes to the unwounded while
on their way to the hospital
IN October there were many signs in the
heavens, and one American spy trick helped
to read them.
A strange visitor had come to Dutch town
in the early days of that month. He seemed
German. His neat civilian clothes could not
hide the stiff bearing, and he bowed too unmis-
takably from the waist.
He went about quite little. He interested
the American secret service, which was not
amazed TO discover that he was Lieut.. Col.
Won der p of the intelligence service at
German great headquarters, sent by Ludendorf
himself to spy out the Dutch defenseS at
Utrecht.
What did that mean? Were the Germans
planning to save their right wing retreatng
from Belgium by marching through another
neutral country Holland? In 1916 they had
thought of making Switzerland a shortcut to
victory, and Marshal-then Gen-Foch had
evolved plan to checkmate them.
Lieut. Col. Won der P went back to Ger
many on October %. Before he went, the
Americans had this report of his confidential
military view:
leans were attacking-causes us great anxiety
That front menaces our fatherland, and we are
sending there all the divisions at our disposal
from Russia and Rumania.'
G-2-offcial title of the American military
intelligence-put that beside this report from
tram-watcher in Cologne:
"Many former prisoners returned from Rus
STA and Rumania are included among German
troops sent to the western front Their arms
are taken away during the journey, and their
courage is bad. They talk continually in praise
Of Lenin and TrotSky."
A LIED and American secret service foretold
the German collapse practically step by
step
If in September they had spoken OF longing
for peace, in October they shouted OF lift
spy can be said ever to shout. BY every trick
of spy wireless, they sent out word that Ger
many was desperate; that civilian morale was
shattered and could no longer be bolstered up
by government propaganda. Once arnlistice ne
gotiations had begun, more than one spy pre-
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