Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-12-22

ff O4oC 4SpuDllt'
c m mis- SITS
zF s may attempt a
Soviet g ime ;
assaksSza Monarchists an 9th
HINDENBURG er "putsch" to re-
store the throne, or put dictator
in power.
Out of t2.ls might easily grow civil
war.
If this occurred, with It's further
destruction of values, ravaging of
fields and shooting up Of cities, the
allies could kiss goodby any hopes of
reparations or indemnities, ,sanless
they grabbed chunks of German ter
ritory.
Since | have visited Germany this
time, there have been incidents of
grave import, Dusseldorf, Dresden
and Brunswick, there have been Sc
1ious disturbances. Maddened by
rrices, spurred by Communist
preaching, mobs smashed windows
and looted shops.
It is significant that most places
plundered were groceries and shoe
stores; also that in every case the
old hands at Communist agitation
took no part. Most of the rioters
were young fellows, easily inflamed
to violence. IN almost every instance
the police were helpless.
A thing happened at Dresden that
bodies no good to foreigners. The
mob marched to the leading hotels
and howled execration at those who
come into Germany, eating up the
peoples food and forcing up prices.
One Of the best informed editors
in Berlin expressed to me his fear
for the republic He put it like this:
Under the Versailles treaty the
republic is allowed a nt2ximum Of
100000 troops. Policing q nation Of
100000 is a tremendous task. If
mob violence started all over Ger
many, the government simply might
not be able to handle the situation.
Il fear that is what the Monarch
lists wish. The Junkers doubtless
have arms. Also in many parts Of
Germany the reactionaries are sup
posed to have organizations with
subsidiaries which call themselves
stormy troops and drill in secret.
Suddenly you might see these re-
dictionary forces appear, guns in
hand, under old army officers. They
would say the government had
showed itself powerIess. Therefore
they would restore order. They
might not aim at immediate restora-
ton of the throne but might initiate
what happened in Hungary.
"Just as the royalists there named
Admiral Horthy as supreme dictator,
so in Germany they might set up a
Hinbenburg or a Ludendorff.
"The bulk of the working class
would array themselves against the
reactionaries. The result would be
civil war.
IN the Kapp putsch the workmen
struck and the strike proved highly
successful. But fear the reaction
aries learned a lesson from that at
tempt. Most Of Germany's food is
raised on Junker estates. 1t is pos
sible they would say until the work
men went back to their jobs, they
would not allow any more food to
come to the cities"
That seemed to me a disturbing
picture. I went to the Reicstag
and sought out Eduard Bernstein,
Social Democratic veteran. He didn't
seem alarmed. Said he:
'There is always some danger Of
local plundering and that the Mon
archists might try putsch. But
think these dangers exaggerated.
The mass Of worllmen are true to
the republic. As to the country land
lords starving the cities into submIs-
sion, many workers on the estates
are in sympathy and alliance with
the city workers, TRgsb gsuld not
permit any such tactiesH
Finally the government is an i'm
potter of food and those. supplies are
in the cities.
"The republic has many foes, but
also many determined friends. 1t
may encounter rough seas but if
other countries will give us half
chance, it will make port in peace
ful waters"
Tomorrow: German communistlc
ali,.,I1,