Evening star., 1934-08-07
BY CYRIL A. PLAYER.

bI Oxh1L hs ELA Ens
Gen. Won Hindenburg had been
chosen for the eastern command
partly for his reputation as shrewd
and enterpriSing service officer, partly
for his peculiar knowledge Of the area
of operations and partly because, with
the preceding qualifications, he also
held the necessary rank for the COM
mand. He had completed a military
career with much the same as two
dozen other men in Germany who had
become corps commanders. He was,
in fact, the true type Of the old PruS-
sian soldier.
Ludendorff, whose career had been
by no means undistinguished, had
demonstrated at Liege, in an emer-
gency role, that he could be prompt
and resourcefui assistant, and his re-
moval from the west to the east at
that time caused no gap in the higher
commands. All legends to the con-
trary, coincidence brought the two
men together. All Germany was dis
turbed at the invasion and ravishing
Of East Prussia by the numerically
superior armies Of Rennenkampf and
Samsonoy.
Ludendorff Reports.
When q special train reached Han
over, Ludendorff stepped briskly OF"
sdfA Ni1aa6nburg, ''and reported as my
chief of staff of the 9Th Army" So
Hindenhurg was to command the 9th
Armyl At Berlin the train paused
Just long enough for Frau Margarethe
Ludendorff ito be pulled inside"
On the train Hindenburg and
Ludendorh had q conference which
lasted scarcely more than half an
hour. 1--WE then went to bed" re-
marked Hindenburg. AL his life, in
war as in peace, Hindenburg went
calmly to bed. Ludendorf remained
up.
At Q O'CLOCK the next morning
Hindenburg had his breakfast. A
rejuvenated Hindenburg. who some
how had recovered his youthful soul
in the watches of the night; not un-
inspired by the telegram from army
headquartersl A Hindenburg at war,
commanding an army, restored TO
action. A Hindenburg with special
train, with a chief of staff. For all
this had he lived and served!
His guests were Ludendorn and his
wife, and Frau Ludendord has left q
record of the deep impression made
on her. Hindenburg made converse
ton in honor Of his lady guest.
Hindenburg Taken Unprepared.
I'm Hanover he rumbled, in that
eruff, honest voice of his, II have
been waiting in state of inactivity
and have followed our battles and
victories in the west with satisfaction.
On the other hand" he admitted, "the
situation in the east caused me the
gravest anxiety'-it is the authority
of the newly-born commander speak
ing!-"and I considered the Russian
advance extremely disquieting.
My summons found me quite unpre-
pared. Look" he begged her, my
uniform and boots are not according
to the regulations and have had to
20 to the front with my old htewka
from the Sd Guards Regiment"
Margarete Ludendorf left the train
at Kustrin. Hindenburg and Luden-
dorff rode on to their destiny, strangest
of partners in what Hindenburg de-
scribed as "a happy marriage" The
German general staff built up this
dual counsel in a single authority as
its specific for conducting war. For
Hindenburg was reserved the grand
decisions: for Ludendorff the task OF
devils advocate" as well as the execu-
ton of the plans agreed on.
1t is not difficult to see how, with
such an unpolitical mind as Hinden-
burg's, with such broad authority, and
with such urgent matters at stake,
Iudendorff issued his orders in the
spirit rather than the letter OF what
he conceived his commanders views
to be. That the spirit ofttimes outran
the discretion that SO cautious man
as Hindenburg would approve, goes
for the saying. His only quarrels with
Ludendorff were over just such In
terpretations.
Recognizes Ludendorff Worth.
Hindenburg himself said: After !
became aware of the worth Of Luden-
dorff, and that did not take long, I
realized that one of my principal tasks
was, so far as possible, to give free
scope to his intellectual power, the
almost superhuman capacity for work
and untiring resolution of my chief
of staff and, II necessary, clear the
way for him had TO show
him loyalty. can only
hope that in an equally critical hour
OF trial our fatherland may find such
man again. ."
Just and generous words-toward
a Ludendorf who later reviled his
old commander and declined. with
public Sneers, to attend the dedica-
ton of a monument to the President
Of the Reich. Yet. as late as 1881,
Chancellor Bruening. visiting Neu-
deck, noticed. as he told this writer
at the time, with some astonishment
q portrait Of Ludendorn. Hinden-
burg smiled slightly. MANY people
seem surprised" he remarked, adding
earnestly. but ! cannot forget his
great services during the war"
L.