Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-11-13
STILL: THINNING OF VAR.

49, .it'r.
t;eneral Friedrich Won Bernhard
whose hook, Germany and the Next
War" created such a stir among ~
ropean nations. in the year Or INC,
preceding August, ;19l4s has Mrltt%n
whatssMsy@bs ssttyfsd "a Fedhfahidh
niec1fy '.War in the Future which
seenss to indicate that the results OF
the decent struggle have not made
any Essential change in the Teutcn'r
no;nt, of view on this very important
subtet. 1t will be recalled that
ono If the most striking features ui
Won &sernhardi's earlier work was a
,ertSan childlike simplicity and d.
rectiess with which he discussed
Cierrhany's plans for dominating the
worfa by force Of arms. Inc matter
Of fSct way in which nc Outlined the
methods BY which it was expected TO
subtseate France. England, and pos
siblS the United States, came as :"
pairfful shock to many persons, wh"
were slow to believe that such cold
bloodctf sentiments, destitute of all
regard for international morality
could be held by the German people
as al whole. That they We're gencr-
all,Y accepted was revealed on the
sudden outbreak of war on the finn
siest of pretcxts. Won Bcrnhard!S
Latest Sock seems to show that there
has&been. no, change i'll the national
view regarding war, and again h"
treats the subject of future HOSTILE
ties4with that lack Of reserve which
WASP so characteristic of his frs
book, Regarding the ways ans
means of raising large army, des'
pitS the limitation upon numbers
fixed by the peace treaty, he says
frankly:
D$spite the present peace terms
the boat weapon must be develop
ed 70 the utmost. That this and the
formation Of an army are possible IS
proved by what happened in the
wears after 1906, when Prussia. TN
der the very eyes Of rh" French gar
risons on her territory. trained 2OO,-
OO0L men instead of the l2,0OO-al-
lowed her.
This historical example proves
once more. as do so many other cX-
anlples, that every political policy
WHICH aims ut achieving anythIn"
must always be 50 to speak, an Of
fensivc policy.
.A,stimcly interest * given to th's
question of large German army by
theap1ovcment in Bavaria to organlZ"
an armed militia, which has spread
to bae other parts of Germany. This
is 40 evasion of the spirit Of the
peace treaty, just as the training Of
lsyge army in 1906 WAS contrary
to the spirit of the peace pact made
by PRUSSIA and France. 1t is easy t."
scea!kow large militia could be or
ganascd in Germany which would b"
a sUending menace to nel@hborln"
natSAns. France is already greatly
dist&rbed over this possibility, as IS
shown by dispatch from Berlin
WHICH quotes member of the Mile !
Disarmament Commission as saying:
tn Bavaran Reichswchr refuses
to tEkc any steps against the militia
andaxc are waiting for the Govern
mcn4s final report that it is power
lcssaso carry out the instructions of
theesommiSsion. General Noilets
not8Ilcmanding the immediate dis
banding of the militia was uncquivo-
cal IN its threat of drastic steps il
GcrSany failed to comply.
These drastic steps include the oc-
cupation of, the Ruhr district, and
this Time it looks as if France really
means it despite EnglanG's opposi-
tion., Aside from the grave conSe-
qucrfcs the French occupation would
entail among the radical coal miners
in tie Ruhr, this action would prob
ablysl lead to serious dispute be-
tween England and France.
1fsGermany plans trouble in the
near future she should diSscmble
with greater care. The Allies of
1920 will not be hoodwinked as
FRANCE was in 1906