GERMANY’S NEW FLAG

Evening Star, Issue 19697, 26 October 1927, Page 12

GERMANY’S NEW FLAG

THE REPUBLICAN EMBLEM TO BE WORK BY TROOPS A sensation was caused in Berlin recently bv an announcement by the Minister' of War, Herr Gcsslcr. that the wearing of the national colors of the German Republic is to he compulsory for the German national army. The Rerlin correspondent ol tho London ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says: “To the paper ‘ Lokalanzeigcr ’ the impending order to this effect is a cause not only ol surprise, hut also of indignation, 'there are millions of people in this country who find it unite in eider that the men who have sworn the oa.Ui to tho -Republic, and regularly take its money, should lose no opportunity ol displaying the symbol ol the eamouilaged autocracy which it supplanted.’’ .lleri' Gossler's decisio; was precipitated by the recent Constitution Hay, which some officers ol the Reiuhswehr celebrated by Hying the Hags of the Wilhelmian Empire from their private dwellings. The order, however, remarks that as circumstances ate in Germany, the employment of the black, white, and rod Hag without simultaneous consideration fur tho national colors —black, red, and gold—signifies a poll! leal attitude and activityi” and is therefore under Hie ban of the law. The War Minister continues: * .Moreover, such an occurrence conduces in impede my struggle to give the Reichswehr a position above parties and subservient only to the welfare of the Stale, and places weapons in tho hands of opponents ol the defence lorees. R is quite clear to mg that such an allitndo on the part of the defence forces is taken ill by a section of the population, and that precisely lor the soldier who lias fought and hied under the colors black, white, and red, a large measure of sell-suppression and civil courage is required for the adoption ol this standpoint in all publicity. Such feelings and sentiments, a loch arc absolutely intelligible to me, must, however, bo suppressed if the great tasked uniting our fatherland demands it. RltSl’l'XT HUH RKRIIJLICAN COLORS.

Thu proscription ol J-f<'pul>ln'all tulcrs applies not only to the decimation of officers’ private dwellings) but also to ribbons on mourning or memorial wreaths with which they pay tribute to the dead, and to all promises belonging to Lite army or navy, even it they shon d be leased to private individuals. I'mnllv troops will not ho allowed to take, part in any ceremonies or celebrations where the Republican colors do not at least receive equal honors villi oilier “‘through Ins order ilsr put his lout into I hornets nest. Jin. reactionary papers were soon buying angrily round his head and tin cateuin,-, him with their stings. Their rage was all the more furious because bis sudden accentuation of bis Republican principles, being (pule unprecedented, was also quite unexpected. I’or seven jeans a nominal Democrat ami prolessed Lepublican Herr Dossier has weathered all political storms as the dailing ol the reactionaries and the hope of the restorationisls. And now, .pist when thej had habituated themselves to regard* iurr him as secretly one of themselves, Inf suddenly turns and wounds them m their most sensitive spot. It is suggested that possibly the duel cause ol their bewilderment is the fact that this incalculable man, who has toned Jus proper political color to suit every bind of Coalition Government, has \vaited to -trike his bold blow for the Republic until the. Cabinet consisted mainly ol more or less open Monaichists. AN" UN ANSWER ED QUESTION. The Conservatives say quite openly that the Cabinet must reconsider the whole question and insist on the immediate cancellation or revision ol El err Cesslcr’s order, it would appear that, in point of lad, Herr Cessler m tin., instance acted on Ins own initiative ami anlliorifv. without consulting any ol Ins colleagues. At any rate a journalistic inquirer at the War Ministry was refused an answer to the question whether the (lag order was considered and sanctioned by the Ministry in a hodj. One newspaper says that the old regimental societies, which arc the guardians of traditions, must, in view of the whole history of the revolution and the establishment of the Republic, be and remain opponents of the black, red, and gold. To such objections the Democrats and Republicans reply that whatover may bo the ease with oflicors, the rank and file, for the most part, know nothing of Imperial traditions in the service, but voluntarily enlisted when mere boys as soldiers of the Republic.