The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-08-02
Uncertain Attitude Of Germany
Toward the Peace Treaty Up
to Friday, June 20.
scHEIDEMANN Cabinet OUT
Foch Ready for Invasion From Three
Sades-TurIs Ask That Their coun-
try Be Left lntact-Americans
Cross Mexican Border and
Punish the viliistas.
BY EDWARD w. PlckARp.


we had better sign the treaty and
have done with II. But whether we
Sign 1t or not, the worst is yet to
come; and We refuse to cheer up"
That was apparently the attitude
Of the greater part of the German peo-
PIE on Friday. June 20, when this re-
view was written. However, at that
time it was impossible to forecast the
action that would be taken by the Ger
man government, and the news COL
umns will tell whether the treaty was
signed or rejected. by Monday, June
3, at $40 p. m. Paris time, when the
dme limit given the Germans expired.
Friday morning came the news that
the Scheidemann cabinet had fallen
and that Gustav Noske, minister of de-
Tense, was to become head Of the new
government This was taken to mean
that the treaty would be signed, as
Scheidemann had been the chief Cd
ponent Of such q course. 1t was be.
ueved that the rule Of Noske would
amount to dictatorship. Another
story was that Bernstorff would sue
coed Brockdorf- Rantxau as head of
ne commission.
Disappointed. d.smayed and thor.
0ughly angered by the final refusal of
The allies to ameliorate to any marked
extent the terms imposed on them, the
Germans ragged impotently against
their fate. Count Won Brockdorf-
Rantxau and his colleagues on the
peace commission united in advising
me cabinet to refuse to sign the treaty,
the cabinet to refuse to sign the treaty.
In the national assembly at Wei
mar. where the treaty was to be con-
sidered. the majority socialists, 1t was
believed. would vote for signing. and
It was believed the Catholic center
and Independent socialist parties also
would finally agree to accept the terms.
Throughout the former empire
sentiment was diverse. The south
eFn states, which would suffer most |
from invasion, were in favor Of WELD |
ing. while the northern provinces. es-
East Prussia, were strongly
opposed to such course. Naturally,
the old pan-German element was BIZ.
ferly against the treaty, but that ele-
ment no longer rules In Germany.
Meanwhile. the allied nations. tax
Ing no chances. made every prepare
hon for immediate action In case Of
rejection OF the treaty. They had Ger
many encircled by ring Of guns and
bayonets and were ready to invade
rom three sides, while on the north
The guns of their fleets would enforce
renewed blockade by sea. Before
ne week ended the British grand feet
vas on war footing. The immense
Hrigible R-34. which was about to
'tart across the Atlantic. was made
'eady to sail for the Baltic, and her
R-23, set out on a cruise
lat was to include the Kiel canal.
Land operations. carefully plapued
" Marshal. Foch and his colleagues.
allied for swift advance by the Bel
ian and British forces through Essen /
nd the Ruhr district to the fortress | !
{ Minden; by the Americans ND the s
alley of the Main to the Bohemian | !
order. cutting Germany In two; by !
he French to the fortress of Ulm anc s
hen to Nordiingen. outflanking the :
trong Rhoen mountain defenses. At L
be same time. according to the plan, n
he Czecho- Slovaks would attack from :.
he south and the Poles from the east a
nd II Is believed the great industrial | Il
Istrict of Siles;a would thus be occu- Il
led. u
The allied command estimated the 70
Faiiabie German forces at not more