GERMANY HAS FORGOTTEN THE WAR

Evening Star, Issue 20089, 1 February 1929, Page 15

GERMANY HAS FORGOTTEN THE WAR

COUNTRY TO-DAY VIES WITH AMERICA IH ENTHUSIASM FOR SPORT

Come to Germany arid try to talk to any Gorman about another war oi the need of another war, and see how far you get. They have just one answer, “ Dcr Krieg ist aus!” (says a Berlin correspondent of the Gaily Express ’). . , That docs not so much mean tnau the war is over as that the war is out. The war is an old and forgo tom memory; the war is 'something J 0 read about in books as you read about the Thirty Years’ War or some other war equally archaic. The war is passed. Of course, there is the problem of the Rhine Valley, but that, too, is a present problem, to be settled on its own merits and the terms of the treaty. It has nothing to do witn planned revenge in the future. Even the colonies lost in the wai seem no occasion lor bitterness, for the Germans plan to ask for no restitution of districts lost in the political divisions following the treaty, and what the Germans plan for the future must be borne in the future. So iar as one can learn they plan nothing except new commerce and new finance and now uses of machinery and all modern ways for making their land healthy and wealthy and wise. PASSION FOR SPORT.

They would rather have come in second in the Olympic Games than be first in another armament race, they will get all wrought up about beating the Australian's in tennis (as they did), but try to get them thrilled about a new gigantic army, and they will give vou one disgusted look and go on singing; “ Trink, trink, Buderlein, tvink. so ist das Leben eiu Scherd.” (“JOrink good beer, little brother, and find hie :s a jest, a healthy, happy jest.’ ) , They do not drink and sing to forget their sorrow. They do not treat you with the most charming hospitality to send yon home with false stories about their beueiicent intention while ni secret they build armies and machinery of war. These things they do from sheer love of lile and relaxation from hard toil, and chiefly from their great love of music. When the band plays ‘Deutschland, Deutschland, Über Alles,’-’ they do not rise and yell and get red in the face, with the hope of a new world conquest. But let the band play a Strauss waltz and they go round in circles in their chaiis. the band play a song of the Rhine wines and the Rhine maidens. and they roar with approbation. Steel your heart again’st their infectious gaiety and distrust, their every word, and you come to the same conclusion the wai is out, down and out. PEOPLE DO NOT WANT WAR.

Ah, you may exclaim, all this doesn t prove a thing. These are the people, and except in moments of national excitement the burghers have never wanted war. The people may not want war, but over and over in history the people have been nurtured for war by an insidious propaganda. The people do not want war, but the people have no real voice in the secret government and no power in ’shaping national politics.

■ To that argument there are two certain answers; in Germany now the people have political power, and m the early years of this century the people did give every impression of desiring a war.° Look at the last elections and the triumph of the Social Democrats. Look at the conduct of You Hindeiiburg, the leader of the war, and now the most ardent advocate of the Republic and the most ardent advocate of peace. Look at the trouble Von Hucneield got himself into by paying a visit to the Kaiser. Ho bad to make open reparation to the working men and the Social Democrats. Read even the most violent newspapers. They do want what they call political justice on the Rhine, but you cannot find anything about a new war.

Even in their private unpublished talk you will find nothing doing. With every appearance of sincerity they tell vou over and over again;

“ By winning the war you broke up the Prussian monarchy, destroyed the soldier education of the iaen wc had to spend all our time saluting, gave us a chance to discover the rottermes’s of military glory, gave ns freedom to do what at heart wo always warn ted to do—listen to good music, work very hard, play in the evening, and bo our-sel'-ec.” “ A! one time wc were dazzled with „ glitter of bayonets that took light from the Imperial sun. Wc never ’saw the blood on the bayonets or knew- that the bayonets pierced our own hearts as much as they pierced the hearts of the enemy. Wc were beaten and humiliated, and so came into knowledge of our souls. Only the conquered can learn from a war. We have learned; and at tills distance of time we know just bow much we have learned.” “ 1 HATE ALL THAT.”

Of course, you make the obvious answer. Men fresh from the horror of modern warfare never want another war.

But tho younger generation? They are too young even to remember the years of their starvation. They never sarv the trenches. When tho time comes they will believe the old catchword’s, the old lies and deceptions, all Iho chimeras of military glory. , Talk to the younger generations in Germany. Talk to them of military splendour and legitimate or illegitimate revenge on the enemy. They have one answer: “I bate all that!”

They arc not dreaming secret dreams of glory. They arc doing just one thing: they are playing games. Even in America von will find no such cnthusia’sm for games. The young Germans are simply mad with the desire for sport.