East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-04-21
FEAR OLD OFFICERS
PLAN new RISING
League Against Bolshe-
vism" Supplied With
Money by Nobility.
BY FRANK ]. TAYLOR.


Omitted Press STAFF Correspondent.
BERLIN. March 80. (gy Mail. -
Radical leaders In Germany are sur.
; they see In preparation a coming mill
tafy attempt to control the country II
the gnise of the League Against Boil
sheyism," which has millions OF marks
J at its disposal
Their concern Is not confined to
sympathy they may have for the Bol.
sheyik cause. but In fear that the
rnilitarists Will again get control OF
the country and the government
Some of the radicals go so far as to
say Germany is now practically in the
hands OF the militarists, and that the
Noske manoeyers are simply a means
by which the unsuspecting government
has militarism thrust upon 1t.
The charge is hardly supported by
the governments action In becoming
more and more liberal in politics, un-
der stress of attacks from the work
men However. there is reason to be-
Eeve the radicals are not entirely with
out basis for their milItarism fears.
Germany's greatest militarlsm dam
ger comes from the seyenty-fiye thous-
and officers and old army men within
close proximity of Berlin, who made
the army their profession formerly
and who are now entirely unfitted for
any other profession and are not keen
to take up ordinary work.
Pedicament Pitiabic.
1t Is an open secret these men want
TO see "A semblance Of tho old regime
back. Their situation is pitiable, since
they have served their country faith
fully and are now without support,
unless the government continues the
old system of granting them govern.
ment positions as "A reward for their
services.
This IS just what the radicals fear.
and they are condemning the cabinet 4
for ordering the old system sustained. |
at least until the present generation 1
Of officers and soldiers are no Longer I
to be dealt with. These men are
dangerous in the government, the I
radicals claim, since they could at any
time join a militarist coup.
In addition the radicals demand the
complete disbanding of the Hinden-
burg Army of the east, now guardine
he doors of Russia against boishe- (:
sism. This. with the other forces the
has under arms and the
and soldiers at large. gives :
force of some three hundEed :
thousands, which, 1t is claimed by the :
-adical leaders. is pleged to rise to
,rms in case the proletarat gets the
Dower in Germany.
Uniforms, Decorations Appear :
Teher is no doubt that the radicals :
are prompt in their feras largely by
that military force pre-
vents them from joining forces with
he bolsheviks in Russia, but there Is
also ground for their belief that mill
.arists are secretly organizing and are
growing stronger Whether they :
would use their organization against
4 democratic government is uncertain.
Officers have again begun to flaunt
heir gray uniforms on Berlin boule-
yards in full dress and covered with
iecorations. Until recently the off,
,ers did not wear their decorations.
,nly armybands
,hevisnl" is plentifully supplied with
money by capitalists and the former .
lobility. 1t is getting to be formid- .
BILE organization, and will soon be .
BILE to cope with a proletariat upris- =
lg if it chooses to do so, according
o reports regarding the secret gather-i
lg of supplies. i
The steady growth of this group, !
trongly adhered to and supported by =
se former militarists or army men. !
nd of the soviets on the other hand =
orebodes a struggle which will be !
othing short of a civil war, If open ;
ostilities ever to break out, when :
9th sides claim they must support the
overnment by force. 4
II