The Washington herald., 1920-02-02


ent disturbed state of Germany and
| in face of the existing menace from
Soviet Russia. merely a necessary de-
fense force. This the Germans say
themselves and they might be lying,
but officers of allied commissions who
have investigated conditions agree
with them.
/ Some sort of adequate army Is
really essential, because il the Bal
tic states make peace with Moscow
or are overrun with Red armies, or
| If Poland goes Bolshevik, as it well
may. the Red Terror will be at the
German frontier, and Lenine and
Trotsky are not likely to overlook
an opportunity to extend their sway
over great Industrial country, il
that country lies undefended at
their doors. N
Bolsheyism Great Terror.
Bolshevism, or Spartacism as it is
called here, is still the greatest ter
ror of all Germans of the upper and
middle classes. The reyolutionaries
are lying low, but their success d
year ago in capturing Munich and
almost taking Berlin in a pitched
battle shows their latent strength.
At present Communist propagan-
da is rife all over Germany, and il
! is not confined to the working class
| Many intellectuals have gone over
to the Reds, and government off,
| cials say, with what truth | do nor
know. that Spartacism is being en-
: couraged by the Monarchist and
/ Militarist classes.
Most Americans believe that by ell
, tering The war in 1917 and workin,;
hard for nearly two years the United
States ensured the defeat OF Germany.
who would otherwise have been vic
torious. 1t would seem likely, there
fore. and to be expected that Americans
in Berlin would be about as popular
as saloon Keepers at prohibition
meeting. This is not the case.
/ officers claim that their downfall
was due partly to the collapse Of the
! civilian population under the blockade
partly to Spartacist propaganda
! among the troops Oil the lines OF COM
munication during the last phases of
the fighting.
| Wilson Is Unpopular.
! President Wilson is extremely un-
J popular, because he is held responsible
! for concluding the armistice on the
basis of the Fourteen Points, and
then throwing these overheard in
Paris. In so far as America is
blamed, it is not for fighting Ger
many in war, but for double-crossing
Germany in negotiations.
Quiet and subdued but deep grati-
ncation Is exercised everywhere at
me deadlock in the Senate. 1t is felt
[nal II We refuse to ratify the treaty.
Germany will somehow benefit.
B Gtr 70
has already passed. and in politicaI
and business circles the desire TO
come to terms with Britain is
manifest. British prestige. not only
IN Germany, but all over the Con-
tlnent, has enormously increased
since the armistice.
france during the war was the
least hated of Germany's enemies.
admiration was felt for her gal
iant night against odds, hopes ex-
pressed that after she had been
crushed by the irresistible might
OF the Fatherland she would CON
sent to live on terms Of friendsbin
tnough OF inferiority. with her
Why is it that while other war
natreds have disappeared every
herman hates France with a
loathing too deep for wsrds7 Tha
answer must be sought nor IN
events on the battIefelds but In
"nat mas happened since the ar
france is blamed for all the ex-
cessiNe demands of the entente
even the surrender of harbor ma
terial in compensation for tbo
SINKING of the German feet st
SGapa Flow is here attributed to
- = SSieinenceau-that ogre with which
EeTnah nurse maids frighten their
ChiIureh' that bogie man whom ali
I,rafn.I Iear and detest as their
l'retathers hated Napoleon
roatH grievance equally deep-
S" Is the alleged treatment OF
GIt ah Iamllles who emigrated to
Alsace md Lorraine after tbo c.
man man annexation of these provinces II,
. lSn' who are said to have bao,, go III
marily deported since the Fronoh ~
possession. 'ooh
May BE Propaganda.
! All these stories NAV he untr,a
they may be propaganda circulated IN,
orcer TO Keep alive hatred against tho
, historic enemy. If so, thew arc suc-
ceedlnS admirably. The Younger pan-
Grafton of Germans is being hrongbt
up 10 hate France with a hatred even
SURPRISING the feeling against Ger
many many IN France after the disastrous
france is also blamed for retaining
some halt million German prisoners
who are now engaged on reconstrnc-
'i0n work IN the devastated areas.
10 give up to the allied tribunals
the OFFICERS who are accused of crimes
committed in France or on the high
seas during the war is also so repug-
nant to German feeling that I am as
sured 1t is the most impossible of all
peace terms to carry into execution,