The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-17
NO NEED OF APPREHENSION

A good deal is being written about the German menace and
the prospect for the resumption of hosthities on the part Of the
Germans.
Clemenceau made a speech a few days ago in which he made
some reference to such a contingency. Some people seem to
think he meant that France was confronted with imminent peril.
What we gathered from his remarks was that he wanted the
boundary so fixed that the frontier would present a permanent
barrier against the possibility of such an invasion as was expert
enced in 1914, and which has caused France such untold suf-
fering.
OF all the nations in the world Germany at present is the
least anxious for a renewal of the war. The Germans stopped
inc war to prevent an invasion. At that time the Germans we're
IN Belgium and France. Germany had a submarine fleet and
what was supposed to be a first-class navy.
The army has debanded except for the organization to pre-
serve order within the country. Hindenburg is at the head of
It, and he was among the first to ally himself with the new
order.
The Germans have no navy. They have no submarines.
The allies are in German territory, and occupy what were the
strongest of the German Notifications.
The only apprehension that exists seems to have its origin
in the minds of persons who are influenced by the highly coored
reports fostered by irresponsible news agencies.
If there were any ~misgiving on the part of Foch, Haig or
Pershing or any Of those familiar with all the circumstances,
the troops would be going over instead Of coming back,
1t is true that Germany is rapidly recuperating, and that
there has been a transformation within the past 90 days. The
transformation is due to the fact that the Germans have turned
from miliarism to commerce and industry. A little while ago
we were afraid Germany would not be able to %recuperate suffi-
GENTLY to take care of the cost Of the war, which by right she
must take care OF. Now that the Germans give evidence Of
being able to do the things we were afraid they would not be
able to do, there is apprehension in some quarters that they will
be able to do them too we'll.
1t should be regarded as an encouraging omen If the facts
as indicated warrant the belief that Germany has at her COM
mand unexpected resources, Tor the indemnity required OF that
country should be limited only by the ability to collect. The
Germans, and not the people of the nations at war with Ger
many, should be made to bear the financial burden Of the war,
Regret is sometimes expressed that the spirit OF the Ger
man people is not broken. This might have been foreseen when
Gen. Foch submitted the terms of the armistce and they were
accepted. Their spirit might have been broken by refusing all
armisice and carrying the war into Germany, but it is recalled
that there was considerable rejoicing over the signing OF the
armishce-in fact, there was a lot of rejoicing over the fake
report before the armistee was signed.
The war had reached the stage where it might have been
carried into Germany, and the German people crushed and
beaten as the armies were, but it would have cost many thou
sands OF lives, and when we recall those gigantic casualty lists,
the names they contained and the names they might have con-
tanned if the war had continued many months longer, we should
be grateful that America achieved what it set out to do without
greater sacrifice.