The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-09-30
Germans Predict
Another War to
Regain Territory
By EDWIN W. HULLINGER

by CD w AAN W. lAS SbI4l4NNGh
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY OF
OCCUPATION, COBLENZ. (By
Mail Germany will begin another
war-perhaps within 20 years, GER
tainly in the following decade--to
win back the territory lost in this
war"
"The old regime will be back in
power in Berlin in a few years"
These two predictions express the
:, almost unanimous conviction of the
German population in the American
occupied zone along the Rhine. They
were repeated to me time after time
by citizens of every class, occupation
or grade in life.
They arc almost the only two issues
concerning which there is absolutely
no difference of opinion in "Uncle
Sans Germany" For on most mat
t ters the Rhineland presents a dis
3 tressing bewilderment of thought.
Thus spoke quiet farmers, leaning
on their hoes in their fields, and OBJ
sequious shopkeepers, eager for the
fruit of the proverbial American
spending palm. Walters, hotel por-
ters, liverymen, well-to-do merchants,
' bankers, ex-officers, ex-privates, uni
5 versity students, laborers, pro-govern-
> menters, nti-governmenters, monar-
chists or republicans-all answered as
: one man.
Many were unable to conceal their
surprise that the question should even
be raised.
Some gave answer sadly, as if re-
signing themselves to the inevitable /;
others, triumphantly, like prize
fighter promising a comeback. Man.
ner of delivery varied according to
mood or temperament of speaker. But
in what was said, there was no varia-
ton.
"The habit of obedience and sub
mission to authority is too deeply
= drilled into the German mind to per-
i nit anything else-in this generation,
at least" a well-bred, thinking young
chap explained. He professed-and
: with convincing sincerity-a hatred
of militarism and Prussianism from
: bitter personal experience. He hoped
d to escape it by going to America, as
soon is he could learn English,
e "The German people today are in
= capable of dem6cratic self-govern,
y ment." he continued. "The nation is
+ not accustomed to choosing for itself
y 1t knows how to accept and obeg com
q mands from above. 1t does not pos
: sess the initiative necessary for self
rule. You cannot change an ingram,
ed national trait in a fe wdays. II
! will take a generation or two of edu-
cation in a new school of thought.
"The Junkers win oe back in con.
s. troll in two or three years-five al
. most.
"The average peasant reasons only
Z, in material results. He knows he was
l prosperous under the Kaiser, He was
told everything He was spared the
= trouble of thinking for himself.
"Now he has freeoom-and hare
= times"
"He may enjoy his new liberty il
a way"
My companion pointed to the ever
boten" sign, lying face down on the
turf of the beautiful Luisen Anlager
on the Rhine.
THAT sign was upright before,
he smiled. "Well, the peasant is
glad it's down now. He enjoys walk.
ing on the forbidden grass.
"But when it comes to balancing
these slight freedoms, accompanied, as
; as it will be told, by adversely, against
the sterner but more prosperous pa
ternalism of the old days, I don't
: think there is much doubt as to his
t choice.
THAT is the way the Junker agi-
: tators will put it up to him."
Few, however, thought the mon
arehy will be restored. All admitted
such step would involve dangerous
international possibilities.
The general idea seemed to be II
Junkers would come back
] inr the formal costumo don preache'
cans, although ~ eh sunday,
be the same A1A' -