THE DOWNFALL

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 127, 31 May 1919, Page 14

THE DOWNFALL

GERMAN COLLAPSE

A DRAMATIC STORY

A NEW CHAPTER TOLD,

What follows is a hitherto unwritten chapter in the history of Germany's defeat and ultimate collapse, writes Mr. Leonard Spray in the Daily Telegraph. Among other things, it disposes once- for all of the fiction still promulgated in many quarters that the downfall was brought about by internal and subsidiary causes—in the last event the November revolution—and it provides conclusive proof that Germany's surrender was a direct result of the military circumstances imposed upon her by the Allies long before there manifested themselves the other conditions upon which the supporters of the old regime still lay the .blame for the great catastrophe.

It will be remembered that in his recent speech of defence in the National Assembly Erzberger sta,ted that on 10th November a telegram was' received from Great > Headquarters telling the German Armistice Commission that, whilst seeking amelioration, they must in any event assent to whatever conditions Marshal Foch wished to impose—in effect, that Germany must surrender on-terms. What Erzberger did not say—and what has up to now. not been publicly disclosed—is that Hindenburg gave practically the same dread command, and in a peremptory form, as long previously as 28th September. In the early morning horn's of that day six members of the Reichstag each • received a Government telegram despatched in the course of the previous night. This telegram instructed them to appear at nine o'clock the same morning at ; the Home Ministry, in order to receive' a confidential communication from the Government. The meeting accordingly took place. As will be seen from the account which follows, written from information supplied by one of those present, it was of the most dramatic and, for those who attended it, a tragic character.

At the appointed hour there found themselves in the waiting-room of the Home Ministry, Count Westarp, of the Conservatives; Hen1 Stresemann, of the National Liberals; Herr Groeber, of the Centrum party; Herr Ebert, of the Majority Socialists; and Herr Haase, of the Independents. All were equally and greatly surprised at finding themselves in such an exclusive assembly of pai-ty leaders. Significantly exclusive, for there were missing, and had clearly not been invited, such party' magnates as Herr Heydebrand, of the Conservatives; Herr Erzberger, of the Centre; and Herr Scheidemann, of the Socialists. It must be information of a truly extraordinarily confidential character which was to tia imparted to such a small group, and yj:t a group representative of every, party in the State. A MOMENTOUS MEETING. Whilst waiting to bo summoned to the Ministerial presence, tliey feverishly discussed the probable nature of the communication. Little did they guess at the bombshell which was to be thrown into their midst, and it.casts a penetrating searchlight on the degree to which even the responsible political leaders bad been kept in the dark by ths Military Command as to the true state of affairs to know that the worst thing they feared was ah announcement that Aiistria was about to renounce her alliance. And not all of them believed it could be even so bad as that. Into the room, laden with this atmosphere of suspense, there came one of the State Secretaries, who, after 'an embarrassed pause, exclaimed, "It is terrible!" Although none knew exactly what the words implied, one of the party leaders said: "But it had to come, and could only be a question, of time." "What do you mean?" asked the Secretary. "Why," was the reply, "the defection of Austria." . . "If it were only that)" said the Secretary, and, sighing, left the room. Just afterwards the now terrified men were summoned into his private room- by Herr yon tfayer, Vice-Chancellor. They seated themselves around a table, and then the Vice-Chancellor, with an expression of deadly . seriousness; and- in sombre, almost solemn, tones, said : "THE WAR CANNOT BE WON." "Gentlemen, I nave an extremely painful communication to make to you. . The Army ' Command last evening informed the Government by ..'telephone that it has come\to the conviction that the w.a* can ho longer-be won,, and' that we must,1 as speedily. as possible—in fact, without the least delay—ask for an armistice." .

The effect of these words was crushing. No one had contemplated the possibility of such a complete catastrophe. There was profund, silence for a few moments. Then one of the six found his tongue, and falteringly asked if the Government had not known earlier' that things were taking such, a course. After having made his terrible announcement Yon Payer had remained standing, with lowered head, and with fingers resting on the table, as if supporting himself by that means. When this question was put ha slowly raised his head, and, looking at the questioner with mournful eyes, replied : ' •

"No, the Government had no reason to suspect anything of the kind. The telephonic communication of last evening was the first that the Army Command had said as to the fatal acuteness of the situation."

Thera was such hopeless dejection in the tone with which he uttered ' these words that no one present could doubt their truth. Another of the leaders then remarked, faintly : "Then Alsace-Lorraine is gone?" "Yes, it is gone," affirmed' the ViceChancellor.

"And probably Posen also ?" queried another. • .

"Also to that thought must wo try to reconcile ourselves," answered Yon Payer, adding :

"On its own initiative, the Government has still done the following : It has asked the Army Leadership to come to Berlin and explain exactly the position, and why it has come about so suddenly." '

Such was the mr.nner in which the German Government -first announced Germany's defeat. As was betrayed by their individual demeanour, \the effect on those to whom the announcement ivas made was appalling. Count Westarp, deathly white, sat motionless, staring as if at an incredible • spectre. Stresemann' bore himself fairly well, but his hands resting on the table were shaking. The patriarchal head of the old, groy Groeber was sunk so low that his long beard spread itself out over the table. But, curiously enough, one of tho six who seemed most shocked was Fritz Ebert—the Socialist, who a few weeks later was to. find himself the first President of the New German Republic. Huddled together, he stared into vacancy, with frightened eyes, that seemed to be visualising- all the coming terrors.