Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1920-03-18
SITUATION.IN GERMANY
CAUSING. APPREHENSION

Washington, March l5.-Accordine to
belief in official circles, the whole situa.
tin rprodaeed by the overthrow of the
Ehrt government in Berlin. is full of
uncertainty and danger, and it is bcliey.
ed hero that the European Allies will i'm.
mcdiately take common counsel to de
termine what steps are essential on their
part to remedy conditions that NAV
prove harmful to allied interests.
The report that Field Marshal Won
liindenburg had been proclaimed Elm
periai President Of Germany" attracted
interest in oifirialacircles. The opinion
was given that if fHindenburg was placed
at the head of the new regime he would
be merely q catspaw for General
hudendorf. who iss regarded as the real
force, behind the monarchist and mill
tarist movement. Hindenbnrg is repre.
sentcd to tbe aanytliing but the strong
character he showefi himself to be in the
war. His age is telling on him and he
husi lost much of his force, il is said by
those acquainted with recent affairs in
Germany, while Ludendorff Ia credited
with being the master mind of organiza-
tions that are opposed to the democrati-
ntlon OF ms country. e.
One of the foremost authorities ON
international affairs said that any
change of Government in Germany at
this time would be bad from the view.
point of allied interests, but If the mil.
itaristic- c-monarchistic group was in con-
troll the situation would be insthe worst
possible shape. The opinion was ex-
pressed that Great Britain and France
would be induced to take hand in
the situation and that it would not be
surprising il they began assembling
their armed forces with view to dras-
tic action. The fear that dominates
the allies, it was gathered, IL that a
change of government will endauger the
execution by Germany of the; terms of
the peace treaty.
One serious factor in the situation is
that Germany apparently has still a
formidable military force in being. Her
army rehabilitation under the condi-
tions laid down in the peace treaty has
been slow, and recent official reports
received here indicate that the military
force ia comprised a. follows:
Reichswehr 1.-THE real combat forcel,
25O,OOO men.
Sicherheits- Polizer Estate constabu.
lary), $4,000 men. -
Various military contingentsN that are
only partly demobilized or engaged in
adjusting the military records of the
war, $4,000.
Home guards (militia) estimated at
from 100000 to 1000, 900, but believed
tn nun, har about onn nnn ,,,o, /
The strength of the principal allied
forces in the occupied territory is In
detail as follows: II
French troops, l54 900. +
British troops, 100000. i
United States troops, 5000, includ-
ing those being used for policing Silesia
during tho plebiscite period. i
1t was the intention of the United
States Government to reduce it's armed
,orces in the German occupied area to
$500. There are now in European eoun.
'tries,. according to tho latest reports
received, TIA officers and 1886 men Of
the American Army. Major Gen. Henry
T. Allen commands the American troons
in the occupied areas. Brig Gen. will
liam II. Sage commands the American
contingent in Silesia. /
No move has been made by the United
States Government In connection with
the situation that has developed in Ger
many. 1t is supposed that Great Britain
and France will consult this govern
ment before undertaking any plan of
action. To what extent the United
States will'regardg itself as involved in
measures that the European Allies may
deem necessary to meet the new condi-
tions- Is n matter that can be settled
only by President Wilson. !