Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1919-04-03
GERMANY
LOST BY VAR
New York Worlp

New York World
When the critics OF the peace con-
ference can find no other subject on
which to vent their ~displeasure they
fall to complaining that, because Of
President Wilson's foolish sieaiism or
indifference among the governments
represented In Paris. Germany IS ike
ly to go "scot free.n
There are many things to worry
about in Paris. but the danger OF OK.
treme leniency to Germany is not one
of them. The punishznents already
imposed upon that country have no
parallel in modern history in the case
OF a great nation defeated in war.
There is no instance IN which de-
mands Of retributive Justice have been
more dramatically fulfilled.
In 1914 Germany was the greatest
military power In the world. Today
Germany is practically without an
army which any Hofaenzollern from
the days of the great elector would
recognize as such. Most OF the troops
have been demobilized, The war COM
manders have been deposed. Thouss
ands of guns and materials of 3ennrra-
GUS value have been surrendered TO The
allies. The German government has
been forbidden, for the future, to have
any, army more than 100000 men and
1900 officers, which is less than the
peace army Of the United States is the
most incorrigibly non-military nation
in the world.
The German a v in 1914 was sec
ond only to the British navy. That
navy has now ceased to Exist. The
Submarines were surrendered outright
under the terms of the arrnistice. Most
of the capital ships are informed at
Scapa Flow, and. whatever disposition
is made OF them by the peace confer
ence, they will never again fly the
German flag. The German dream OF
sea power is finished. IL the Germans
were to believe that the former kaiser
spoke truly vixen he said that sour flu
ture lis on the sea,,',they wo::!d be OBJ
liged to admit that Germany no longer
has a future.
AS for the German mercantile ma
rine. its fate runs d para Hell &c the eate
OF the imperial navy. Most OF It's
merchant ships are in the hands of the
United States and the allies and will
form part OF the restitution that Ger
many must make for violations of in
ternational law and wanton damage 20
private property. Yet five years ago
Germany was challenging Great Brit
ain for the command OF the carrying
trade Of the world with every prospect
Of SURPRISING her island rival.
Alsace-L Lorraine which was the visi-
BILE symbol of German military power
and prestige, is lost forever. These
provinces are back under the tricolor
ana VIII remain under the t~ricolor.
Colonial Germany has likewise disap-
peared and these colonies will not be
returned. Spain he's not more coin
pletely disappeared from the .gaasias g
a colonial power
There are still other questions aft
lfecting boundaries and damages that
Iremain to be settled In respect to Ger
many, but the only issue relates 70
iGermany's ability to a There is
complete agreement in the peace CON
ference that Germany must restore
the devastated districts and make com
~pensation for all injury Inflicted ,leor
private property by sea-, land or air.
There is no agreement as TO the total
amount, but sven IL it does not exceed
the minimum estimate It will stu be
the most colossal sum eve exacted
from the defeated people.
Germany is not escaping punish
ment. On the contrary, the penalties
already imposed i staggering. The
account Is not yet closed, but the
wreck OF the empire IS complete.