The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1919-06-13
GE!RMANY's new
ARMY LACKS SNAP.
Soldiers Slack in Discipline and
Show Familiarity Toward
Officers.
cid ARMY HAS DISAPPEARED
About 10000 Men Commanded by Hin
denburg About All That Remains
Of Great Host--RevoIution
II Changes German Troops.

Changes German Troops.
Roilip. Under the new republic the
lIiayi'uents of the army and navy
90 more. In name at least. The
ipuplic's name for them is defense,
d hey are placed under charge of
c3is.9y Noske. much Trusted by the
1Temincnt for his prompt action in
eiefgeucies, and much hated by the
Siarlacans for his relentless opposi-
IN when disorders break out.
tNoske's appointment as head Of the
ivy. as well as the army, was regard
Il none too seriously, by Noske him
s,lf. at least. When asked by a news
riper man what he expected to do
bout the naval affairs of Germany in
he future, Noske laughed and replied:
Why worry about naval affairs, when
We haven't any navy?'
There are still sailors In big num-
Vers In Germany, however, and they
have been problem. During the revG-
Luton the sailors played an important
Dart. and most OF them developed such
4 liking TO land duty in Berlin and the
other big cities that they have refused
40 leave for Kiel or any of the mar
hors. Now the sailors are used in the
guard regiments all over Germany.
along with soldiers.
Big Army Disappears.
The German army is in process Of
reorganization. Immediately after the
armistce the army almost disappeared
as an organized unit, and though there
were millions of men in uniform scat
tered all over the land, none was re-
sponsiHle TO anyone and officers were
not safe In uniform. In localities the
rOlders Joined RED guard" groups,
and some served and others misused
their privileges. Thus the army as 1t
was known in the old days practically
vanished, except for a few divisions
under Hindenburg, camped behind the
Rhine. and the troops along the Polish
border.
Now the only army of the field that
Germany has Is In the east TO guard
against the Poles. 1t is commanded
by Hindenburg and is supposed to he
not more than 10000 or 10000 men,
If 1t numbers that many. However,
government troops are scattered over
the country in every big city and in
industrial centers to guard against
disorders. The big problem is keep
ing these troops faithful and salts
fled, when Spartacan propaganda and
money is at large. Under Noske and
the minister of war, Colonel Reinhard,
the morale and discipline of The gov
ernment troops have improved tremen-
dously until great part of tine for
mer efficiency is restored.
Germany's army is in transitory
state. What it will become depends
upon the peace terms, the Germens
recognize. But there has evidently
been change in idea in the govern
ment. Early in the revolution Ebert
declared himself against conscripted
army, and Noske and Reinhard were
appointed 20 organize volunteer forces,
serving for short periods, to defend
the new government. AS matter OF
fact ,the. troops used for Interior de-
fe' v ar all volunteers, mostly yorns
ng for three or six months
pay.
Il. ,.f fha NO
inst conscription in theory de
s President Ebert. but there is not
,.h hope of putting the theory into
.ect, for it is pointed out that Ger
.any will not abolish conscription un
ess the neighboring nations do. Since
the Germans do not expect their neiFh-
bors to depend on volunteers, plans
are being worked out for new con
scription army, serving shorter periods
and modelled more after the Swiss
than The old Prussian army. The
militia idea is popular. but is consid
cred idealistic.
The German army of interior de
fense, WHICH probably numbers around
a hundred thousand men, or possibly
few thousand more, is an expensive
proposition. Volunteers have to be
paid well to keep them from being
won over by the Spartacans, who offer
more money. Food and equipment is
good.
The new army has rather slack
discipline. and none the old Prlls-
sian snap Is seen sn officers ap-
pear. Familiarity almost lEso-
lence are seen or ,ry hand. The
German trooper b, .anged lot Kith
the revolution. ar ppearanetA are
at all indicati .6<gae government
forces In Germai eday are not to
be feared outside Germany.