To the public, as well as to the Allied Cabinets, the German military authorities continued to profess the greatest optimism, and when I left my post in April, 1918, the standpoint held in Berlin was still that England would be defeated by the naval war.

Writing on December 14, 1917, Hohenlohe reported that in competent German circles the feeling was thoroughly optimistic.

I, however, certainly perceived definite signs of doubt beginning in some German minds, and Ludendorff in replying to the reproaches I made to him said: "Everything is risky in war; it is impossible before an operation to be sure of the results.

I admit that the time limit was a mistake, but the final result will show that I was right." In order to exculpate themselves all the leaders in Germany declared that America would, in any case, have gone to war, and that the U-boat had merely given the last impetus.

Whether this is quite true appears doubtful; it cannot either be asserted or denied positively.
The world has become used to looking upon Hindenburg and Ludendorff as one; they belonged together.