WAR OF REVENGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1925, Page 2

WAR OF REVENGE.

IS GERMANY PREPARING? GREAT POWER IN FIVE YEARS. A REMARKABLE PROPHECY. •In a little more than five years Germany will be the must powerful nation in Europe. This prophecy of a British member of the Inter-Allied Mission for the Control of German Disarmament is also the view of other officers connected with the body, says “Diarist” in the National Review. It is the impression, too, of “Diarist” himself, baaed on seven months spent in the Ruhr in 1923 and three visits to Germany in 1®124. He does not accept the view of many people in America, England and France that Germany has had enough of war, is repentant, and will settle down to the arts Q f peace. Probably nine Germans out of, ten believe (hat their country was not responsible for the war, and was not beaten, though the Socialists caused submission. A large section of the German people is obsessed with the idea of Germany being one day in a position to wipe out the ignominy of what they consider was an unmerited defeat. Th&re is taking place in Germany to-day a tremendous resuscitation of courage, ami of confidence in its destiny as the paramount power in Europe. Economic freedom has brought back the old arrogance. Men of international minds like Mr. Ramsay MacDonald and M. Edouard Herriot, have given heart of grace. In applying the Dawes plan such men did what the experts who formulated the plan scrupulously refrained, from doing; that is they showed an excessive kindness towards Germany without taking thought of how she would interpret their benevolent intentions. They ignored the German mentality. HIDDEN AND CONVERTIBLE MATERIAL. Before the principle of arbitration can be applied in the settlement of disputes among the nations there must necessarily be disarmament. “Diarist” says emphatically that it is not in the that would be to. abandon the idea of a mind of Germany to disarm. To do war of revenge, to disband those movements and forces for a future struggle which there is abundant evidence to show are increasing. Thanks to the labours of the Inter-Allied Commission, more than 30,000 cannon, 11,000 minenwefer, 85,000 machine-guns, and more than 4,000,000 carbines, revolvers, and automatic pistols have been destroyed. But in certain domains Germany has conserved war material that was indispensable; she has kept her optical appliances, and she has retained her military telegraphy, and the equipment for making masks of protection against gas. To build up war material, even partially, a considerable effort will be necessary. However she has done her best to keep considerable quantities of armaments hidden; the allied officers have unearthed cannon and machineguns of the best type in large numbers. While huge masses of war material have been smashed up, it must not be assumed that Germany cannot replace it.

German industry is more powerful than ever, more capable of a rapid transformation in the direction of turning out engines of war. Germany is also in the position of making use of foreign industry. By article 170 of the Peace Treaty the importation and exportation of war material is prohibited; but there are many indications of German activities in this domain. The Allied War Offices have sure information that Germany has exported to a neutral country machines for manufacturing war material. If and when the Inter-Allied Commission ceases its operations, Germany can, in a few months, get together sufficient quantities of material to* enable her to begin a war. There is evidence, too, that “improvements” have been made in the terrible Avar gases, and that funds are provided for experiments by savants in such matters as stopping motors at a distance, causing explosions, and improving gas masks. “Chemical warfare” and other terrifying devices will evidently play a great part in Germany’s plans for the next war. CHANGEABLE PACIFISTS. Socialists and some other sections of the German people are anxious at present to keep “the peace, but so were similar sections which suddenly changed its aggressiveness in 1914. Leaving the Socialists out of account, it is beyond doubt that., those who direct public opinion in Germany envisage a war of revenge. Five, 10 and 15 years are periods mentioned as necessary for preparation; but the precise moment chosen for conflict will depend in great part on the political situation in Europe; on whether those nations which were Germany's enemies have been sufficiently lulled to sleep by the pacifists and the internationalists. The sudden craze for sport in Germany has about it a decided smack of military training. Athletic organisations of university students are run on military lines. There is a vast number of already trained soldiers. By the Peace Treaty, Germany was allowed an army of 100,000 men, but it is beyond refutation, says “Diarist,” that since 1921 500,000 men have been trained militarily. According to the treaty, not one of these men had the right to be trained.

“Diarist” does not think that the nations will ignore the writing on the wall as they ignored it before 1914, or that they will be influenced by “their pacifists who refuse to accept facts. The reason is that the governments are being kept well informed on what is taking place in Germany. The war sharpened the wits of the Intelligence departments. While the spokesmen of governments are talking the technicians are not idle. A commercial war is inevitable, and Germany is calculating that victory in this will help her in her war of revenge.