MILITARY SETTLEMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10811, 29 January 1921, Page 6

MILITARY SETTLEMENT

So far we have not heard anything from the Paris Conference of the dis-' armament question, except, of course, that Marshal Foch has it in hand, in a manner that can scarcely be called perfunctory. The Marshal is certainly likely to be peremptory also. It is known very well, for example, that our ex-enemy has very industriously creating an atmosphere round him of something like shuddering ter-* ror. We have seen, quite recently, the last touch he has given to that airy fabiic. That last movement of his artistic hand has created a “Red” army, hidden somewhere in the darkest part of the subterranean Fatherland, ready to come to light behind HolienzoHerns and Junkers and oberlieutenanta, not only wearing Iron Crosses, but ready for reactionary service to the last gaiter button. To-day, we learn that even ■ America is impressed, and sends forth a. stage whisper informing Paris—which place, together with the whole of Europe, America has. ‘’boycotted”—that it really ..won’t do to bustle the poor, honest Germans, whose only friends are certain Oxford professors, who are very good fellows in their way, hut quite unable to give any ( protection whatever against this, new ‘‘Red” army of Terror about to issue from the subterranean caverns,' which- has, indeed, already projected its grim, shadow in detail (to the last gaiter button, remember) over, the- trembling atmosphere above its sinister face—--that it won’t do to bustle these unfortunate, well-meaning people into premature disarmament. How many people wearing the ancient pacifist brand are ready to take up this sad warning of the disinterested, boycotting Americans, it is impossible to say; but it is safe to say that their number is not inconsiderable. They were always influenced by shadows, and now they have a-“ Red” shadow, with rows of gaiter buttons all complete. Of course, they will squeak. It is as well to remember, therefore, that Marshal Foch is adamant, with certainly the Belgians beside him, who are even as near to the Germans as are his* people. It is, moreover, well to remember, too, that he may have in view another “Red” army, not “Red” at all, but just as strong in Hohenzollerns, and Junkers, and ober-lieu tenants with Iron Crosses, an army less ready as to the gaiter buttons, but, on the other hand, more material. The fact is that the officers of the Disarmament Commission actually got. a glimpse quite recently of' this army. It was not underground, for it was living in barraoks at Ouxhaven. What is- more, these officers, on their visit to these barracks in process of disarmament duty, were -received with cold water through- hoses, which the soldiers turned on them, while the Hauptman officer escorting them looked on in,, hopeless and somewhat: scornful Helplessness: When the drenched representatives of the Allies had effected a strategic movement to the rear certain German newspapers followed them with a roar of criticism. Had they not been warned that it -was dangerous tp. go near these brave troops, who very much disliked the idea of being disarmed? They had rushed on fate regardless, and they might thank thedr stars they got off with a wetting arid some jeers. It turned out that these knights of the hose belonged to the famous Ehrhard Brigade, which had figured in ICapp’s celebrated coup a few months ago. It transpired also that, they are occupying several strategic positions near Berlin, in the firm belief that they ate to he one day the spearhead of the army of liberation. Where, one asks, is the . shaft 'behind > this- spearhead ? The ’ German Commission fat the disarmament of the German people has, it appears—the “Times” Berlin correspondent is the authority—“decreed that what it calls the Self-Pro-tection Association need not surrender their arms, but must report them; and it is, a generally-accepted statement that: about 60 per cent, of these airms Have been reported, the actual number reported being 6785 machinegimp and' 634,494 rifles and carbines, besides other gear.” It seems a comfortable equipment for over a million of men. Thus the notorious Ehrhard Brigade—which was supposed to have been disarmed, and has been declared disarmed many , times—is occupying several places above-ground as a coming spearhead, with about a million men ready to act at tEe due moment as a powerful shaft. It is about this not shadowy force that the adamantine Marshal, supported by his •Belgian colleague, will have something to say at the Conference. As he will probably give chapter and verse—a thing the adamantine Marshal is rather fond of doing—we may conclude that the coming debates in the Conference on German disarmament will be interesting.