El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-08

sidered The king thief among nations is being relieved
of his loot That is all And yet 1t IS that deprivation
FRAT reduces Germany TO the status Of second rate power.
The condition Of military impotence to which Germany
Is TO be reduced is startling by comparison with Ger
anvs armed might in 1914 Tie army is to be reduced
TO 100000 officers men; all forts within so kometers
Of the Rhine are down. there TO be no mill
tary naval air forces and the navy IS to be puny It
VIII consist Of SIX batueshlps SIX ngnt cruisers ana u
torpedo boats There to be submarines and the
naval personnel is limited to 5000 officers and men This
VIII make Brazil stronger niitarily than Germany
IN addition to make assurance douby sure the fortress
Of HeIgoand is TO be dismantled and the Kiel fortified
tons to pass out The Kel canal TO be opened to
the ships Of the world Germany who long shouted for
the dsmantlng of Gibraltar, now loses IN Hegoland Gil
b1altar's only rival
Germanys financial obligations made very heavy and
appears that the German delegates viii make more
opposition these than to any other provisions the
treatv They declare Germany viii pay indemniies.
However the allies do not regard the which Ger
many viii be required to pay, beginning with payment OF
2ooO0o0O0OO marks as indemnity but as PREPARATION for
injuries inflicted It is evident from the treaty that the
allies been able to reach conclusion to the
total amount Of damages Probably the loss too great
to permit of statement being compiled at this time
Therefore the draters Of the treaty have conened them
selves with inserting provision that Germany IS to &C
cept responsibility for all damages inflicted and agrees
make repayment for them starting IN with advance
payment as above specified.
There is this exception however, and it VIII be most
gratifying TO the French public The French coal mines
that portion Of France which the Germans occupied during
the war left bordering destruction They were at
least dsmantled It VIII be long before they be used
ducvity they VIII be compensated for by the transfer
from German to French ownership, Of the coal mines in
the Saar valley It from these mines that Germany
got the greater portion Of her fuel
It IS noteworthy that while Germany IS obligated to
recognize and assent TO the league OF nations she IS not to
become member Of that league. Germany viii be bound
by the application Of the leagues principles but viii have
word to its conduct may be that future years.
Germany having taken to the respect Of
civilized mankind, she may be admitted 10 membership IN
the league.
As reported recently the peace treaty calls for the
tradition from Holland Of the former emperor Of Ger
many and for his trial by international court
charge Of supreme offence against international morality
II also calls for the delivery by Germany to the interna
onal court Of various other persons unnamed, who
charged with practices in violation Of the laws and
toms Of war. These should comprise members Of the
German general staff and Of the naval staff together with
such field officers known have issued orders for
the commission Of outrages
Every word Of the peace treaty summary and excerpts
published Wednesday should be read by everybody This
is an intensely interesting document making worldwide
changes and fraught with the most important consequences
It puts the cactc chapter to the most thrilling as well
as the most terrible section Of the worlds history
The treaty may have minor defects but essentially it IS
good There need be doubt that Germany ultimately VIII
sign it. Neither need there be any doubt that the United
States senate, for one, viii ratify it.