The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-05-07
Militarisrn Growing
In New Germany
Country Full of Troops and
War Munitions Are in Pro-
fusion-Pacifists Are
Worried.
By Frank J. Taylor.)

| Dy AOy ASA'/
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent.
BERLIN, May 6.-Since its birtf
the German Republic has had to de.
eide between two opposite extremes
to maintain itself and keep from be.
ing overthrown by the radicals.
The two courses open, as the
Ebert -Scheidemann cabinet saw them
were
l Bowing to the demands of the
proletariat and becoming radical, al
most to the extnt of communism, OF
at least extreme socialism.
2. Becoming militaristic and fol
lowing the methods of the old Ger
man government of crushing oppo-
sition by force.
More and more i is becoming clear
that the cabinet choose the latter
course, probably in self-defense, and
under the pretext of saving Germany
from DOlSneNlSIH.
What is more serious, both to Ger
mans and other peoples, is that the
German Republic is becoming handy
with militarism, and under the cover
of resisting bolshevism" is evident
ly trying to hide the strength of the
Republics military machine.
Figuring that the new Republic, if
it were really pacific, would be will
ing to make Showdown" of Ger
many's military strength to convince
the outside world of good intentions,
the United Press correspondent ask
ed the War office for some data.
Finally the War Office sent for the
correspondent and an agreeable
young captain, explained how weak
Germany is at present, militarily.
He said Germany could not even re-
sist the bolsheviks, if the latter chose
to rise.
Asked what the actual strength
of the German forces is, the captain
replied that the War Office itself did
not know. This ignorance of the
War Office, he explained by the fact
that numerous leaders were organ
izing new volunteer units. The cap
tain declined to guess the strength of
the German forces on the grounds
that he did not want the figures pub
lished "for fear the bolsheviks would
see how weak the militia is and over
throw it."
Every man in the army is volun-
teer, according to the War Office.
Berlin is crowded with soldiers scat
tered over the city, but this is due to
the fact, says the War Office, the
members of the old army regulars
who are no longer on active duty,
have to b housed. The War Office
offered no explanation as to why
these men were fed and housed,
though inactive, and the active work
of guarding Berlin is done largely by
provincial troops.
Enlistment is indefinite in the vol
unteer units, with the condition that
a man can leave the militia upon Civ
ing four weeks notice. Every unit
has a band, many of the first rate.
Guards with rifles are ready every
where, and auto trucks armed with
machine guns roam about the city in
search for trouble. Barbed wire bar
ricades are not removed from many
streets since the last fighting.
Except for a wave of crime, rob-
berry and plundering, which swept
Berlin the last week in March, Ber-
lin is well protected. The War Of
flee is busy and rushing. Swank of
ficers are numerous and are as mon
ocled and military as in the old days.
Democracy is manifested, however,
in the agreeable way the War Office
treats outsiders new thing in
Germany.
So much for what the War Office
wanted Unitd Press readers to be-
lieve. What the War Office did not
give out through the agreeable Cap
tain was gathered through a major
who has been converted to pacifsm.
He sought out friend high up in
the War Office and secured some first
hand information, because he believ-
ed publicity might lead to action
which may prevent the re-birth of
militarism in Germany.
The friend in the War Office re-
marked in answer to the majors
query as to Grmany's strength,
"Well, we could muster a million