ECHO OF LICHNOWSKY MEMOIRS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 288, 24 August 1918, Page 9

ECHO OF LICHNOWSKY MEMOIRS

GENERAL STAFF EVIDENCE

A REMARKABLE LETTER

The German journal "Vorwaerts" recently devoted a leading article to Iho case of Captain von Bcorfelde, of tlio General Staff, who, according to the "Norddcutsche Allgcmcino Zeitung," was to bo prosecuted for incitement to high treason for his connection with the Liclinowsky all'air. This report r.nd the "Norddcutsclie's" further observation tliat this prosecution has at most only an indirect connection with tho Lichnavrslty affair, leads tho "Vorwaerts" to remark:—

This communication, which may perhaps be of semi-official origin, with its not exactly adroit phrasing, is calculated to 'arou.se tho greatest astonishment in the world. It simply creates tho impression that a traitor has been acting as a member of the General Staff. Captain von Beerfeldo Wongs to ail old Brandenburg family of Junkers and officers. Shortly before the war lie was relieved of his post as captain, of tho Guards owing to illness. . On August 3, 1914, he volunteered, and as a company commandor and afterwards as a battalion commander was in tho dash through Belgium to tho Somme. Forced by illness to return home, he received tho Iron Cross of the first class and his superior officer's testimony that ho had formed and commanded the best battalion in the division.

With theso qualifications Captain von Boorfelde joined the- Deputy General Staff, which proves that ho was considered neither morally untrustworthy nor intellectually deficient. This appointmeut placed him on the' dangerous borderland where warfare ceases and politics begin, and he thereby entered a world which was for him full of terriblo seorets. The unsurpassable perfection of all monarchical and conservative institutions, aud the exclusive responsibility of Germany's unscrupulous enemies, for the war constituted an unshakable article of faith for this "non-political Junker officer. When he learned many things which had long since ceased to be secrets to those versed in politics, it was as if he had fallen from heaven. He doubted everything in which he had formerly believed. He wrote the following letter confidentially to Marshal yon Hindcnburg:— Germany's fate already depends on whether wo are truly representing a true cause; otherwise, even if outwardly victorious, we should be ripe for downfall, and never able to fulfil our real world mission.' It is with truth alone that in tho long run wo can withstand our internal and ex- . ternal enemies, the most dangerous of wliich is everywhere the infamous lie. "Vorwaerts" then shows Captain von Beerfelde developing into a friend of tho people aud tho workers, and conceiving his mission to be that of helping the people towards higher justice. "Vorwaerts" asks whether it was necessary to hold up this captain of tho General Staff to the world as a traitor. The journal further says that Captain von Beerfeklc is in sharpest. opposition to his former superior officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Nikolai, who is head of the News Bureau in the Deputy General Staff. Captain von Beerfelde was on a former occasion arrested because Lieutenant-Colonel Nikolai asserted that ho (Nikolai) had forbidden him to engage in political activity, and Captain von Beerfelde was acquitted because this assertion could not, bo maintained. One may bo sure Captain von Beerfelde lias done nothing which in the people's sense of justico would be high .treason, and it asks that this time the case against him should not, as has already been twice the case, be tried in secret.