INTERVIEW WITH HINDENBURG

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1919, Page 11

INTERVIEW WITH HINDENBURG

"GERMANY. WILL RISE AGAIN.'? New York, July 27. The following dispatch, issued by Mr Karl von Giegand, sent from Hanover on Friday, appears in the New York Sun:— According to Field-Marshal von Hindenburg, the Allied demand for the trial of the ex'-Kaiser and the German Army leaders and other officers by Allied tribunals will, if carried out, not only violate sovereignty and do violence to the most fundamental principles of international law, but re-establish . the ancient Roman precedent that patriotic duty and the defence of one's country constitute a crime for the defeated in ,war. "But Mr Lloyd George declares that it should be done as an example to the future," I persisted. That is what the ancient Eoma'ns said (replied Hindenburg). The Romans dragged the kings and leaders of the defeated armies behind their triumphal chariots as an "example" to others. History will answer whether such "examples" ever put an end to wars or even lessened them. ' Mr Lloyd George has the thoughts of a reincarnated Roman Mperator. He would drag the Kaiser, the German Army, and Germany's political leaders. Behind the British chariot to increase his own popularity. He would make a Roman show in London or some other city to add to British prestige by exhibiting and judging Germans as a proof of Britain's power. He thinks perhaps by this means to terrorize CO millions of Germans even unto the third generation. Mr Lloyd George is mistaken. instead he will implant the most implacable hatred, a hatred that can give no assurances to promise'a permanent peace for the world. He will fail in that goal which he professes to be his, if he r expects to reach \i by such means as the Roman Imperators before him with the same thought failed to terrorize nations.

The. aged Field-Marshal spoke in fhort, terre, abrupt sentences. He spoke without passion, but with a forcefulncss that betrayed deep feeling. I am not speaking for myself (he continued). lam an old man, and lam a soldier. As such I shall take what the Fates mete out to me. If it will give greater lustre to the martial shields of Marshals Foch and Haig to have the man who opposed them on the grim field tff battle dragged behind their triumphal chatfots, if it will add to British or French glory and chivalry, then take me in place of my Kaiser. lam at their disposal. I have written that to Marshal Foch as soldier to soldier. He lias not as yet deigned to acknowledge my letter.

But Foch and Haig are soldiers. As such, they understand a soldier's honor, a soldier's duty to his country. They did their duty. We tried to do ours. The Fates decided for them. We submitted as a nation seldom did. Is it not enough? Or is it thumbs down? I respect Foeh, Haig, Pershing, and the other leaders of the other side. I hope I also hsvc their respvet as a soldier who did his duty. If political minds can turn back to the Bornan war days, I cannot believe until it is proved to me that soldiers such as Foch, Haig, and Pershing support the demand for the Kaiser. My Kaiser did not desire the war. He is and remains my Emperor.

The Field-Marshal recalled our last meeting in Pless in December, 1910. on which occasion I had warned) him a<rainst underestimatinnr America as a factor if drawn into the war. At that time Hindenburg and Ludendorff both remarked that America could not possibly raise and equip an army in time to take an effective part in the war. "The achievement of your country was colossal. -Yes, it was truly colossal to stamp such an army out of the ground," said Hindenburg frankly. There was a note of unmistakable admiration in his voice. "Yon Americans may soon have the opportunity of showing jnst how great peace angels you are," he remarked, referring to certain news and dispatches. "Then you do not believe this is the last war?"

For the first time in an hour's talk the Field-Marshal burst out laughing. Only dreamers believe that. As long as there is mankind there will be wars. There will bo fewer wars, hut no great people will ever submit <|iiestions of national honor and national existence to a tribunal of other peoples or accept an unjust judgment dictated by interests or might without a test of strength. Orainly this peace gives little encouragement to the hope that wars may end. Will Germany ever come back? (I asked).

The German people will rise again (replied the Field-Marshal with conviction in his tone), but it will not take place in my day. tout (turning to Captain von Hindenburg, of the General Staff, who had silently listened to the conversation) my son will see it.

As the broken-spirited and aired flerman national hero and battle conductor bade me good-bye, there came into my mind the picture of our in the Royal Palace at Posen in December, !!>l4, and at Pless in December. ]!)]fi, on the eve of the fall of Bukarest, when he said, in reference to the expected offensive in the West, "Let them come on. We are ready for them. The Entente has lost, more than ten million men. jJ it could not win with them, it cannot win without them," and LudendnrlT's remark on the came occasion, "The wnr will lie decided before you can cdceiively intervene."

To-day. the German war-crod is rearing his 72nd year and awaiting the end of his days, a bittejy disappointed old man.