GERMANY IN ARMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17328, 27 November 1919, Page 7

GERMANY IN ARMS.

. CITIZENS' DEFENCE CORPS. COUNTRY HOUSE ARSENALS. COUNTING ON BRITAIN. • By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 8.15 p.m.) Router. LONDON. Nov. 22 (delayed). Discussing the recent estimates of ■ Germany's armed strength, an • authority who has just returned : from Germany stated that there • were three categories of armed • forces in Germany. First there was the national army, 100,000 strong, as fixed by the Versailles Peace Conference. Secondly, there was the Public Defence Corps, estimated at 100,000, which is centred in the- cities and is tantamount to a permanent police force, all its members being former soldiers who live, in barracks. Thirdly, there is a Citizen' Defence Corps, consisting of volun- , teers, which sprang into existence as a result of the Spartacist troubles. . j Its numbers cannot be calculated, , i but it is known that the corps is well ' I armed and officered, and un- | doubtedly the reactionaries count on ;-i its support. The force possesses ori ganisations in the rural districts as ; well as in the towns. Stocks of arms ['■ and ammunition have been sent ! broadcast over Germany for emergencies, notably in Pomerania, where ; every country house is an arsenal. The authority added that what ! Berlin is most impressed with is the growth of British prestige. Germans, : especially business men, believe that , Britain is most sympathetic towards | the reconstruction of Germany. They j look most hopefully to Britain and I ! her colonies for raw materials, with- -. out which Germany must starve. Lj . •