Trial

The treason trial (TIME, Mar. 3) of General Erich von Ludendorff, Herr Adolph Hitler and eight lesser heroes of the "Beer Hall Brawl" recorded a five-hour speech by Hitler and a four-hour speech by the General.

Herr Hitler, taking up the main line of the defense, attempted to show that von Kahr, ex-Dictator of Bavaria, and Reichswehrgeneral von Lossow were inculpated. As this pointed to Bavarian Prince Ruprecht himself the trial was temporarily closed to the public.

But the General's speech--ineloquently written and ineloquently read--was heard by a full house. When he had finished, his friends began to apologize. As a politician the General had shown himself again incompetent. His defense consisted in attacking Socialists, Jews and Catholics in a Catholic country:

"I am an old man. I became old under the heavy burdens of the war, the physical efforts I was forced to make, and through my struggles with the people. Nevertheless, my heart is young and I am ever one who loves the freedom of my people and my people themselves.

"There cannot be the slightest doubt of my attitude towards the Communists. Before the War this Marxist world turned against every military power. Herr Scheidemann said to France, 'You are not our enemies, but our friends and allies.' Therefore I am opposed to all Marxist and Communist elements.

"In connection with this is the Jewish question. I made its acquaintance during the war. For me it is a question of race. Little as the Englishmen or Frenchmen can be permitted to obtain dominion over us, so little can the Jew be permitted. Freedom of the nation cannot be expected from him. Therefore I was against him.

"When peace was signed the Pope did not act as a neutral man, but he favored France. This was illustrated by a letter written at the time of the sanctification of Jeanne d"Arc."

Finally, after attacking Cardinal Faulhaber, the General gave his monarchical credo:

"The nation does not exist for the dynasty, but the dynasty for the nation. When Germany finds itself it will have a dynasty ready to serve it. I wish the German Empire to be strong and free and belong only to Germans."