EUROPE'S ARMED GAMP.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 63, 14 March 1919, Page 5

EUROPE'S ARMED GAMP.

FIRST STEP TO DESTRUCTION. REDUCTION OF GERMAN ARMY. OTHER NATIONS WILL FOLLOW aOXITARIST OPPOSITION. (Received 0.10 a.m.) PARIS. March 13. Mr. J. K. tracer, the correspondent of the A. and N.Z. I'ress Association, writes that from an exceptional authority lie has learned that the decision to reduce the German army is the beginning of the destruction of armed camps in Europe. It was significant that the opposition to the proposal earns from military leaders, except in the ease of the British. The other leaders preferred the jnenai-e of an army of three millions in Germany to being deprived of large armies in their own countries.

Yet, without such a decision ar- Yesterday's the League of Xations would he merely a ;-crap of paper, and would md in the elasli of great armies sooner or later. The decision would do more to preserve the peace ot Europe than anything else.

ft is believed that Germany will accept the decision, but not without some protest that the proposed army is insufficient to police her internally. The Council agreed to the decision unanimously, Hnd it is hardly thought other countries will require much persuasion to reduce their armies under the influence of public opinion. The decision may be regarded as opposed to all compulsory military Iraining.

Definite plans have already been made to provide credit- to enable Germany to be revietualied for six weeks. This will pave the way for Germany to create further credits. Undoubtedly eastern Europe is starving, and great s"._W?ng exists anion? women a-d children. Nothing could be worse from our point of view than having anarchy in Gennanv. Tlie Germans will not listen to Bolshevik arguments if they are fed. Some sort of ordered government in Germany Is necessary to secure peace as well as to provide a bulwark against Russian anarchy. Food is better resistance than any armed force could provide. The Germans are already contrasting tbe better condition in the occupied territory with that obtaining in Berlin and elsewhere.— (A. and X.Z. Cable.)