The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-09-16
Shall Chaos or Reconstruction in
Europe Follow the Great
World War;
DANGER IN GERMAN AMBITION
Teuton idea Is to Exploit Russia
While the People Fear the Allies
Seek Return Of the Old
Regime.
Article XXI.
BY FRANK coMERFoRD.

Dy lHeiT pOiiCy VI luleTu1euulluS, the
Allies have lost the confidence and
good will of the Russian people; l
do not mean the bolshevik government,
l mean the great mass of the Russians.
They have resented strangers in their
land; outside interference has been
unwelcome. 1t has strengthened the
bolshevik power and created distrust
Of the Allies In the minds of the peo-
pie Of Russia. Our soldiers in ST.
IBERIA were constantly being asked
"Why are you here?" It was the one
question they could not answer.
The Russians look upon Germany
as their only friend. German pene-
tration Is going on. Before Gar Mich
olas' regime ended 1t was estimated
that over half the industries of Russia
were owned or managed by Germans.
Since the war the Germans have
doubled their efforts to Prussianize
Russia. They have asslduously cult
waited the good will of the people.
German commercial agents speak the
Russian language. They are in touch
with Russian needs. They are not in
terfering with the Russian problem.
They are selling to Russia and CIV
Ing longtime credit. The Russians
look upon them as friends and on the
Allies with suspicion. The consensus
Of opinion In Russia is that the AL
lies are bent upon exploiting Russia
and delivering her to the old regime.
Prusslan officers In Soviet Army.
Under secretary of state for for
eign affairs of the Polish government,
Skrzyaski, told me Of q document In
his possession which showed that Gen.
Won der Goltz of the Prussian
army offered to furnish "unter" Off
GERS for the soviet army at wage
of 80 marks day, with the further
understanding that the bolshevik
government would give these officers
a bonus of 5000 marks each at the
end Of their first year of service.
There is much evidence that the boil
sheviks accepted the proposal and that
the "Red" army Is being Prussianized.
The under secretary of state added
that he was convinced a treaty ex-
listed between the soviet government
and the Prussian minister of war;
In October of 1919, the following dis
patch to the Daily Mail Of London
was printed:
"The Freiheit' says that the soviet
government has asked the German
government to send 100000 working
men to Russia to aid in the revival
of Russian industries. These work.
ingmen will be under the order of en-
gineers and managers from German
factories, and Russia will thus be
peaceably invaded by the Germans
at the express desire of the soviets."
was in Warsaw at the time. and
sought confirmation of this dispatch.
From many responsible officials
learned that this dispatch was true
and that the invasion has already
begun. During this time Germany had
intact an army Of over 100000 vet
eran Prussian troops under Gen.
Won der GoltZ. While Germany had
an alleged republican form of gov
eminent, with Doctor Ebert as
president, no steps were taken to de-
mobilize this powerful Prusslan milf
tary force. The peace table sitting in
Paris recognized the menace to the
security of Europe presented by the
Won der Goltz army. There was
much ado about II. Foch was sum-
moned to conference. The result was
the demand made through General
Foch that Won der Goltz be stripped
of command. This was complied
with, but the Prussian army was I'M
disturbed Won der Goltz continued
to be the commander of this force.
Notwithstanding his formal resigna-
tion of the command.
Germany Still Powerful.
Let there be no doubt in any ones
mind that Germany is coming hack.
In fact she has come back. Germany
has never felt that she was defeated.
The will to win. TO conquer. still lives.
She is preparing for the CRISIS, ana
when II comes the Allies will find her
ms economically prepared as she was
ready In n military sense In 1914. Ger
many was not devastated by the war.
None of the fighting was done on Ger
man soil. Germany looted and pill
LACED Russia. Belgium and France,
taking raw materials, timber. coal and
machinery. The trains bringing food
and soldiers to the fronts did not
return empty. They carried back TO
Germany household goods, live stock,
minerals, timber. machinery. This
went on for four years. Germany
took millions Of men and women from
Russia. Belgium and France, prison
ers and civilians. She used their la
Dor power to keep up her economic
life.
For the benefit OF those who doubt
Germany's present economic prepar-
edness I want to give bit OF evidence
I gathered at the PolIsh-German front
In Upper SIlesia. talked to the |
commander Of the Polish military POI
49,, Ia, r,o of THE fronttar hoA