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Show GERMANY LOSES mm BIN' Ludendorff' s Resignation as Sign Hun Militarism Is Really Abdicating. Pan-Germans' Representative Representa-tive and Originator of 1918 Spring Offensive. 1 BERNE, Oct. ' 27. The resignation of General von Ludendorff has caused a sensation throughout Switzerland and the central empires and is commented on as a sign that German militarism is reaJy abdicating. Among the German and Austrian peoples anger and indignation indigna-tion is increasing over the fact that the military situation has been so long concealed con-cealed or wrongly presented. In- the resignation of General' Ludendorff Luden-dorff Germany loses what often has been described as her "military brain.',' Advance Rapid. Unknown before the war, General Erich Ludendorff sprang Into prominence in the fall of 1914 as chief of staff to Field Marshal von HIndenburg, then a general in the operations against the Russians. When Von HIndenburg was given the chief command in August, 1916, Ludendorff was appointed first quartermaster quarter-master general, but his position in reality has been chief of staff and collaborator with -Von HIndenburg. Soon after his appointment as first quartermaster general. General Luden-dorfT. Luden-dorfT. began to be looked upon as tire real "boss" of Germany, and was recognized recog-nized as the representative of the pan-Germans pan-Germans at great headquarters. "Boss of Germany." It was Ludendorff who brought about the retirement pf Chancellor von Beth-mann-Hollweg, and he was reputed to have been responsible for the appointment appoint-ment to the chancellorship of MIchaelis and Von Hertling, both of whom were described as stop-gaps. The general's rule as first quartermaster general has amounted to almost military dictatorship. dictator-ship. General Ludendorff was reported to have been the originator of the plan of the German offensive of 1918. The plan called for offensive operations on the western front which would split the British Brit-ish and French armies and compel the allies to beg for peace before the strength of the American army could be available to any great extent. It was planned that if the offensive failed, then Germany would resort to a diplomatic campaign In order to secure peace. Blow to Germany. . LONDON, Oct. 27. Official announcement announce-ment was' made in Berlin Saturday night that Emperor William had acceded to the request of General Ludendorff, the first quartermaster general, that he be permitted per-mitted to resign. General surprise was caused in Berlin on Saturday a'fternoon by the fact that tho dally report from German headquarters headquar-ters was not signed, as usual, with the name of. General Ludendorff. Later the following announcement was issued: "The emperor, accepting tho request to bo allowed to retire of Infantry General Ludendorff, the first quartermaster general gen-eral and commander in time of peace of the Twenty-fifth infantry brigade, has placed him on the unattached list. The emperor decided at tho same time that the lower Rhenish infantry regiment, number 39, of which the general has long been chief, shall bear henceforth tho name of Ludendorff." His resignation, it Is believed in London, will still further shako the faith of the German people in their military machine. |
