The Daily News. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1918. LUDENDORFF'S FAILURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1918. LUDENDORFF'S FAILURE.

"It is no wonder that rumors flood Switzerland to the effect that von Ludendorff lias been dismissed." Thus wrote Mr Murdoch, the war correspondent, a day or t)vo ago, when he vividly described the grandeur of Marshal Foch's gigantic strategy, which, lie asserted, was impressing even the German military authorities, who belatedly admit Foch's genius. To-day Marshal Foch is demonstrating the test of victory, lie is driving the Germans from the territories which they have wrongfully invaded and ruthlessly devastated, and he has made it clear that the Allies are winning the war, and certainly will complete the operation unless prevented by foolish resort to diplomacy. Foch stands for victory, and Ludendorff personifies defeat. For over four years the Allies have slowly, yet surely, been building up their armies, while stubbornly defending themselves from the onslaught of superior forces. Now their day has arrived, and they are determined to make the best of it. How they have recently gone forward from victory to victory the cables have daily testified. There has now come to light proposals for a peace by negotiation, but it would seem like a hideous crime to expect our generals to lead, or our men to fight, if they are told that, perhaps, after all they have fought long enough, and, having proved that they are brave men, they must not mind if diplomacy steps * in to save the Germans from the bitter humiliation of a decisive defeat. The first postulate of victory is the belief in the power to achieve it, and the man who seeks to weaken the belief is as guilty before his countrymen as he who openly sets the defence of the Empire at defiance. In a trenchant review of the situation, the military correspondent of the London Observer recently asked: "What is the outlook?" It is everywhere promising. The great German offensive has broken down hopelessly, helplessly, irrevocably. Instead of being the "Deus ex machina" which the German newspapers claimed him to be, Ludendorff has shown himself to be wanting in nearly every quality that makes for successful leadership. He has the mind of a quartermaster-general in the office, not of a commander in the field. He can plan, but not execute. Every one of his plans have broken down before they were half through, and now he has no plan left, except to save his face as best he can after his failure to fulfil the promises he made. "When our military experts whispered his name with bated breath as a man to be feared, they spoke at random. Ludendorff made one mistake after another without seeming to learn the lessons which his own experiens.? should have taught him. Rash When he should have been prudent, he has hung back when lie ought to have dared, and has watched the chances of victory slip from his hands, when, with wiser effort and fuller imagination he might have possibly secured success. Take Amiens, for example. Instead of risking everything in capturing the town he started off on a wild goose chase north of the Lys, and attacked the British front at its strongest point —just what Foch wanted, for he was playing for time, and Ludendorff played into his hands. It was the same in the abortive offensive of May 27, when he was obliged to halt under conditions equivalent to a defeat, as he led his forces into a blind alley from which there was no escape but by retreat. He got his two armies back to the Vesle without a debacle, thanks to the admirable way in which his commanders handled the rear-guard actions. From then onwards Ludendorff lost the initiative, which Foch seized, held, and still holds, while the Germans are being pushed back relentlessly on all sectors, losing an enormous number of prisoners, guns and material. It is sufficient to know that the strategical direction is in the hands of Marshal Foch, and time has proved that he is the man of the hour, and it is he who shall decide how the war should end. The German war machine, despite all the boastings as to its perfection and invincibility, is falling to pieces for want of able and skilful handling. Hindenburg, the erstwhile people's idol, has long since been thrown from his pedestal, and now Ludendorff, who was regarded as the saviour of German hopes, is under a cloud—a failure. No wonder the Allies' faith in victory is stronger than ever. That Germany k virtually beaten is evident from her intense desire for an that rail prevent

the Allies from gaining the fruits of their sustained efforts, and now that the finishing blow is well within sight it is unthinkable that peace by negotiation should for a moment be entertained. "There can be but one issue. There can be no compromise. No half-way would be tolerable. No half-way decision is conceivable." These are the words of President "Wilson, and they should he the sentiment of every Briton at this great crisis in our Imperial history.