Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-05
NEW WAR PLANS
BY FOE MINISTER
Socialist Chief of Military
Office Urges Army for
Next Conflict
FIGHT FOR PROVINCES
Herr Noske Advocates Plan
to Harden and Strengthen
People

Paris, April 5.--The proposed limita-
tion of German armaments has at pres
ent for the Germans largely an academic
interest, as the dependable forces that
the state and private enterprise have
been able to raise by an incessant ad-
vertising campaign and offers of good
pay and bonuses to volunteer, do not
reach the lowest figure mentioned in re-
ports as to the size OF the army to be
allowed Germany by the Peace Con-
ference. according to the latest advices
from German sources.
The Socialists, in addition, retain their
old objections to militarism and are not
enthusiastic about even the proposed
popular militia on the Swiss model.
Wants Army for "New War"
An exception to the general Socialist
attitude. however, Is furnished by the
Socialist war minister, Gustav Noske,
who has expressed the opinion that. in
case of an unfavorable peace, which
he anticipates. the army must be brought
as quickly as possible to state of
the highest efficiency for a new war.
A beginning should be made. in the
belief Of Herr Noske, with the develop
ment of the militia and army side by
side. with which should go a campaign
for the hardening and Strengthening of
the people by altering the school courses
so as to give the coming generation
more time out of doors and the encour-
agement of open air exercises and
sports.
Then, in case the time should come
when a new army must be raised for a
tyo - tori For fha
would be better than that of the old.
Has Hope In League, However
Herr Noske, who expressed these
views to German newspapermen in ex-
planning and defending the bill for
provisional army. introduced At Weimar
qualified his attitude by expressing the
hope that some form of league of
nations in which Germany would have
an equal right and footing ultimately
would be evolved and some arrange
meat for Alsace-Lorraine and other
problems be reached with which the
Germans could be content. an arrange
ment that would obviate another war. .
He said that, in this case, the pro-
posed measures to develop hardy out
door race would make the Germans more
efficient FOR peaceful pursuits than their
rivals.
Would Fight for Provinces
Should, however, France take Alsace-
Lorraine temporarily, said Herr Nos<e
adding that he used the word tempo
rarily intentionally--a reaction against
this necessarily would come and estab-
lish correction, in which case Ger
many, with its population of 10000, 900
and the prospect of another 10000. 900
from German-Austria, would have a
great advantage in numbers over France,
the population of which, he figures, has
receded to about 100000.
1t is only fair to reiterate that Herr
Noske's hopes and views concerning the
army, as far as deternIinable by six
weeks of study in Germany by the cor
respondent, are not shared by the great
masses of his compatriots. notably the
Socialists.
His views also.s concerning a future
correction of the Alsace- Lorraine set
tlement do not correspond to the pre-
vail'ng German sentiment, whitehall
though 1t calls for a plebscite as a
preliminary to renouncing the provinces
believes that a plebiscite> surely would
go against Germany and has resigned
itself to the loss of the provinces.