The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-12-21
NOSKE'S ATTITUDE
PUZZLES GERMANY
Will Strong Man" Fight
Militaristic Counter-Rev-
OlutiOn or Join 1t
By FRANK NJ. DEAN


Cologne, Germany, December g.
Special 1.-The parties in Germany
can roughly be divided into three main
divisions. First we have the purely
militaristic party, who desire the re-
turn of the old regime in order to
maintain the position of their caste,
and who instigated Won der Goltz's ac-
tivities in the Baltic provinces. Sec
ondly, we have the social democrats
whose aims to consolidate the present
republic and gradually to rebuild
prosperous Germany; third. we have the
Spartacists, who wish to destroy the
Reichstag and replace it by soviet
There are intermediate and minor par
ties, but these are the major influences
lin German politics at the present time
The Spartacists have little chance of
success, according to present indica-
tions, as the other two parties VIII
probably always combine to stamp
them out and the matter then re-
solves itself into the question of who
has the more machine guns, in which
case the military party has far. better
chances to win. After the loss Of Iieb-
knecht, the Spartacists have made iso
later attempts in many cities to form
soviets, but have been crushed by the
ruthless policy of their chief enemy
and Germanys strong man, Noske.
into q struggle between the socialists
land the military party Which brings
Jus again to Noske, who is the power
at the ministry of defense Just now
1t certainly looks as if he were the
man who will fashion the destinies Of
Germany.
Before the war he. was a rising
young member of the social demo-
cratic party and regarded by the
leaders as being a powerful person
ality with promising career before
him. He was member of the ex-
IRENE right Cor moderately wing of his
party and came into collision with his
leaders son more than one occasion
owing to his outspoken views in favor
of a strong military policy.
Being a student of military matters
end regarded with fair amount of
favor by the military party. he be-
came minister of defense and promptly
became known as the strong man In
the government by the manner In
which he suppressed the Spartacist
risings of the early part of this year
J'e again was Drought into prominence
bv the recentexpedition> of Won de-
Goltz into the Baltic provinces which
il is said, was undertaken withor
Noske's authority. This expeditio
may have been an attempt to Jockey
the minister into finally making clear
whether he intends to support the
military or the socialist party If so. il
1alled, and we are still in the same no.
sition as before with regard to Noske's
ultimate intentions
1t is significant that under the s,,ise
or conference" on the late war mos,
OF the chiefs of the military party recent
~ gathered in Berlin More sienffican NJ
stili is the fact that when Hindenburr
ana Ludendorff passed through thu
streets OF Berlin few days ago they
were received with great enthusiasm.
Most of the Germans to whom hava
spoken are imbued with the conviction
mat, miitartly. Germany could never
nave been beaten; they attribute the Ger
man breakdown at the close Of 1918 to the
blockade. Nie
The military feeling In Germany is still
latent in the breasts of the German non
ulace, and should the military nsrt,
make bid for power there seems Iittla
doubt that they would find considerable
backing. And here arises the great oues-
tion; what position will Noske take in
the event of an attempted militaristic
counter revolution? Are the miiitarists
who have made many blunders in the
past, preparing to treat Noslxe not as the
strong man but as a mere pawn in the
game? Are they exposing themselves to
being smashed by him as he smashed
the Spartacists? Or can they count on his
support? That is the question
If they treat with him secretly we shall
sec conflict between Noske, the old
ally of the militarists and Noske. the
social democrat. It is even rumored that
he is plotting with the monarchists to
bring back the old regime, but this does
not seem likely.
man with the brains, strength and
power possessed by Noske at present
could easily become dictator of Germany
50 it is hardly probable that he would
forfeit his position and play second fiddle
70. Hohenzollern.
Copyright. 1917