New-York tribune., 1919-04-05
German Socialist Minister
Urges Army Be Recruited
to Highest Efficiency for
Renewal of the Conflict
Would Organize Militia
Views, However, Not Shared
by Majority of People,
Who Oppose Old Regime

PARIS. Apr, 4 (ny The Associated
ssj-'Ihe prevalent German att.-
tude toward the question Of limita-
ton o. armament finds exception IN
the Socialist War Minister Gustave
NosKc. He expresses the belief that
IN case of an unfavorable peace, which
ne anticipates, the amy must as
quickly as possible be brought to a
state Of the highest efficiency for
new war
beginning should be made, in the
belief Of Herr Mcskc, with the develop
ment CT the militia s.nd army side
by side, with which should 20 cam
paign for the hardening and strength
ing Of the people by altering the school
courses so as to give the coming gen
Grafton more time ut of doors and
the encouragement Of open air exer-
cises and sports
Then, IN case he time should come
when new army must be raised and a
new war come, the material for the
new army would be better than that Of
the old.
Hopes for "Real League"
Herr Noske, who expressed these
views to German newspapermen in ex-
planning and defending the bill for a
provisional army introduced at Wei
mar. qualified his attitude by express
ing the hope that some form of a
league Of nations in which Germany
would have an equal right and footing
would ultimately be evolved and some
arrangement for Alsace- Lorraine and
other problems be reached with which
the Germans could be content and
which would obviate the necessity of a
new war. He said, that in this case the
proposed measures to develop a hardy
outdoor race would make the Germans
more efficient for peaceful pursuits
than their rivals.
Should, however, France take Alsace-
Lorraine temporarily, said Herr Noske
adding that he used the word tempo
rarily Intentionally reaction against t
rectlon, in which case Germany, with
its population of 60,0000OO and the
prospect of another 100000 from
German Austria, would have 2 great
advantage in numbers over France,
the population of which he figures has
receded to about 36,O00,O00.
Not Supported by People
Herr Noske predicted pessimistic-
ally extended restrictions upon Ger
many's military forces by the peace
conference. He said the recreation of
the army, even under the assumption
that it was only a defensive militia
force, would be further extremely
hampered by the charge that it was
nothing less than a restoration of mil
itarism, and he asked the newspaper
men not to render his task moro diff
ficult than it was under the present
sentiment in Germany against mill
tarsm by criticising the new measure.
1t is only fair to riterate that Herr
Noske's hopes and views, as far as de-
terminable by six weeks Of study in
Germany by the correspondent, arc not
shared by the great masses of his COM
patriots, notably the Socialists.
Repjulsive to Most Germans
The idea of a big army or a resump-
ton of conscription even under the
guise of a militia on the Swiss plan
being at the present time repulsive to
the average German in the midst of the
morning after moral katzen ammcr'
over mllltarlsm.
The views of Herr Noske with regarc
to future correction of the Alsace
Lorraine settlement also do not CORE
spond to the prevailing German scnti
ment, which, while it calls for s
plebiscte az a preliminary to dis
annexation of the provinces, believes
that such a plcbiscite would surely gt
against Germany at the present time
and has adjusted itself to the loss O.
the provinces.