More Heroics

Sometime ago, General Erich von Ludendorff accused ex-Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria of "welching" on the "beer-hall brawl" (TIME, Nov. 19, 1923). The former Crown Prince retorted by calling the General's accusation false and the General faithless to the monarchist cause.

Both men claimed that they had been insulted. General Ludendorff was reported to have expressed a desire to fight a duel with the ex-Crown Prince, but etiquette does not permit a commoner the impudence of fighting with royalty, so the irate General demanded that Rupprecht should appear before a court of honor to defend himself (TIME, Nov. 10). This demand was likewise called "impossible" and "Ludy" became socially and politically ostracized.

At this point, Field Marshal von Hindenburg interceded on behalf of Ludendorff, drew up the following document for both to sign:

"General Ludendorff expresses regret to His Royal Highness for the offense General Ludendorff committed against His Highness. The Crown Prince retracts with regret that he said General Ludendorff uttered calumnies and criminal insults; also that he accused General Ludendorff of unreliability in his adherence to the monarchy."

Ludendorff signed, Prince Rupprecht did not. The former raved-- many doubted his sanity. Field Marshal von Hindenburg washed his hands of the affair, voiced his profound dissatisfaction with Ludendorff's behavior.

Bavarians, most of whom regard and treat Prince Rupprecht as King of Bavaria, supported the Prince's attitude toward the General and there were deft insinuations made to him that he had better pitch his tent in another part of Germany.

In answer to rumors concerning a plot to reestablish the Monarchy in Bavaria, Minister President (Premier) Held said:

"It is not true that the Bavarian monarchists are seeking a monarchist restoration by extra-legal means, through a Putsch or violence, although the monarchist idea is deeply imbedded in the Bavarian people. Nor is it true that serious efforts are now in progress to give concrete expression to the monarchist idea.

"To be sure, the monarchists hope that the realization of their aims will eventually permeate the entire population. One prerequisite to such a development, however, is the spread of the monarchist plan through the Reich in the same measure."