STRONGEST MAN IN GERMANY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15195, 16 April 1917, Page 5

STRONGEST MAN IN GERMANY.

Germany now has a real "boss" in General Von Ludendorff, first quarter-master-general. The hand of FieldMarshal Yon Hindenburg trusted colleague is felt not only in his direction of the armies of the Central Powers, but reaches into Germany's whole economic and social life. All the threads, not only of military control, but. also of civil administration, food distribution, industry, agriculture, and finally even of German foreign relations, all of which are subordinated at present to military requirements, now run ultimately to the Silesian chateau of the Prince of Pless, where General Von LudendorfT sits with Field-Marshal Von Hindenburg at Imperal Headquarters. Where a purely military decision is in question, Von Hindenburg\s name is usually cited, but all other great questions of German policy in recent months —such as universal auxiliary labour service, the conversion of German industry to an absolue war basis, the transfer of Belgium workmen to Germany, the tightening of the food regulations, and, finally, unrestricted submarine warfare —were almost invariably accompanied by the self-explanatory remark: "Ludendorff ist dafuer" (Ludendorff is for it).

GAINED POWER IN EAST PRUSSIA. T4ris General Staff Officer in the daya of August, 1914, when the original German commander in the East, Lieuten-ant-General Von Prittwitz and Gaffron, had given orders to abandon East-Prus-sia-and £all back behind the Vistula, was hurried from Imperial Headquarters, picking up Field-Marshal Von Hrodenburg on five way. He has now extended to all of Germany the system which, ha introduced in the 12ast when Von Hindenburg was merely the over-commander of the Eastern forces. If a Dew Customs Tariff were to be introduced for Poland, and if regulations for the tobacco trade were to be promulgated, the decision ultimately rested with Von Ludendorff. The representative of American Jewish societies who came to Germany to arrange communication between Polish Jews and relatives in America for the sending of relief funds, conferred witli General Von Ludendorff before the plans could be approved. When Von Hindenburg was appointed to the genera] command of Germanv's entire military strength. General Von Ludendorff extended not only his military responsibilities, but also his control of food production and distribution, manufactures, transportation, and otbef social and industrial factors. His first decision was to remedy the error of General Von Falkenbayne (formerly Chief of tie General Staff), who had sadly-un-derestimated the required amount of munitions. General Von Ludemdorff'a determination was to produce, not tim amount of guns and munitions which experts mig&t deem necessary, but the maximum amount of which Germany's industries were capable. From this came Germany's grandiose scheme of mobilising the entire labour supply. The idea of the compulsory employment of Belgian la.bour in German indtrstry was also General Von Lodendorff's. When Governor General Voa Bissing of Belgium argued the impossibility of carrying out this scheme without exciting diplomatic complications, it was tiie "higher military authority" which ordered the plan put into effect. The Krupps, August Tbyssen (the iron magnate), and other big industrial leaders of Germany go direct to Gen. Von Ludendorff for directions regarding the production of munitions and supplies. Thyssen last autumn brought from Von Ludendorff word that there would be no rnt-hless submarine war, which the Associated Press sent in an interview to the American Press, and it was again from the chateau at Pleas;-after the rejection of Germany's peace overtures, that, word came in January promulgating the ruthless submarine policy.