The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-01-02
FRENCH FEAR IS
GERMAN TONIC
At Every New Shiver of Anx-
iety, Mercury Mounts in
Germany'S Morale.
AMUSING TO THE TEUTONS
(BY FRANK MASON.I

peFlln, Jan. G.-(I, N. ). rance S
fear is Germany's tonic. Every time
France gives a new shiVer of anxiety
concerning a possible revival OF the
German military machine, or pro-
poses new plans for hobbling or Grip
ping German reconstruction, the
mercury mounts in the thermometer
OF Germany's morale.
After the armistice, morale was the
lowest thing in Germany. As the
German looked around and saw no
food. no heat, no work, dirty streets,
tattercd and undisciplincd soldiers,
the bloodshod of war between civil
and political parties he concluded
with groan that Germany was the
weakest and most disorganized Coun-
try on the face of the earth.
When the allied press began to
print stories that bolshovism was a
camounage to fool their enemies,
controlled by the German imperial
lists who let loose their forces in Rus
sIa; when they began to print stories
about great army which, following
the Bryan program" would spring
to arms overnight and attack the
allies the Germans laughed aud called
the allies fools to become DO excited
over what they themselves consid-
cred prcposterous impossibilIties.
Strengthens Morale.
But such tales have been circulated
day after day for year. German
editors eagerly clip them from allied
newspaRers and reprint theM. The
allies persistent advertising OF Ger
many's strength and power IL Begin
ming to convince the German himself.
"These people fear us so sincerely
thaI there must bo some cause for
IT, the German reasons to himself
"Porhaps we are not so far down and
out as we think we are. Things look
pretty dark, but perhaps we have
been too pcssimistic."
And so the German has begun 10
take heart.
National Spirit Crushed.
A year ago Germany was broken;
its national spirit was crushed. The
lathcrland was spoken OF only in the
past tense. But the uninterostod OBJ
server in Berlin believes that ne can
not blame the Germans for taking
heart after listening for year TO the
propaganda of allied editors and
newspapers that are insisting Ger
many Is still n power to hc rcckoncd
with, Is still rcsourceful. efficient and
mIlitaristic, and is still source of
danger to the world. Germany has
begun to believe that she has taken
her defeat too seriously and really
amounts TO somethiag after all.
Talks Little. of Revenge.
The German talks little of revenge
on the French, but he talks much Of
the frightened French, who, he be-
lleVes, are running with no one pnr-
suing. IT few Germans are talking
about clearing the left bank of the
Rhine before fifteen years have
elapsed. the French are believed 10
nave their own desperate but widely
advertised "wc cannot protect our
solves policy TO thank for II.
The apparent fear Of the French
hn. impressed the Gcrmnns. They
are beginning to believe that. like
Joshua at Jericho, they have only to
shout TO cause their enemies to fan
over.
The degree to which tho French
nave carried their hobbling of Ger
many policy amuscs, out at the same
time irrltates. some Germans. The
closing OF Turn Neroina. the forbid
ding Of calisthcniCs, the punishment
OF schooltcachcrs who allow their pu-
plla 10 march In drlll oxorciscs. all
furnish grlst 10 the propaganda min
which IL rcawakcninE the national
consciousness
Whether or not the allies nre be
coming aware Of the change 0r spirit
in Germany Is not plain. Eri any
student OF conditions in this country
can sec tho effect The Intelligence
dcpartments OF the allied government
IN betlin arc sending ont reports. but
" Is believed that no special cmphn-
SIS is being laid upon the awakening
OF the German belief in German
power