The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-25

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at 6 Wonder cOunrt southwest;
when marriage was proposed to
! him. Today he knows different.
He met the lady, arranged the
marriage, gave her $3.50 to pre-
pare for the wedding and he now
| is searching for both the missing
lady and his money.
The effect OF French aerial and gas
bombs upon the big English cities,
naval ports, war, factories and
arsenals might force England to her
knees within comparatively short
time.
Next War To Be In Air.
"At any rate, France would fight
q war against England at first almost
exclusively with air squadrons and
submarines. This would enable the
French General Staff to throw the
entire French army against a
weaponless Germany. The German
Reichswehr is numerically too weak
and hasn't the modern devices OF war
to Withstand such an onslaught"
"But England could arm the
Germans" suggested the inter.
viewer.
1.-The French would be in Berlin
before the English could have armed
only q few German divisions re-
piled Rechberg. Then, supposing
that the French General Staff put
the Poles up as a defensive front
against q possible intervention by
Soviet Russia-and the Poles are
fully equal to that job-the Czecho-
slovaks would help France from the
East by occupying Saxony. You can
easily see unconditional surrender
would be the ultimate outcome. for
Germany in such war;" -
But suppose England, who sur
prised you during the war with her
elective anti-air defense, 90 should
again surprise the world and ward
off the French air attack long
enough to get up powerful armies
at home and in her dominions?'
Granted that would make
things more favorable for Germany
also" was Rechberg's frank an
swer. Judging from the lessons
that your American troop trans.
ports taught the world in the great
war, 1t is safe to assume that Eng.
land could land overseas troops on
the continent.
Submarines Would Be Impotent.
French submarines could prevent
this just as little as the German
U-boats could prevent your trans
ports from landing in Europe. But
even the transport Of British troops
to the continent couldn't keep the
French from occupying wide areas
OF Germany.
THE French know that Ger.
many lis the only logical battlefield
for long drawn-out Anglo-French
war. Only In Germany could strong
armies be concentrated against her.
Therefore the French general staff
would be forced. in case of war with
England, to occupy large areas Gf
Germany-even in the event that
Germany remained neutral, for these
reasons:
Il. To keep German armies from
being concentrated and equipped
by England. against France.
"2. To keep English armies from
being concentrated in Germany.
"3. To keep the war and its de-
vastations as far away from French
soil as possible.
'Germany's aim in the great war
was to conduct the war in the
West at frances expense. Frances
aim in the coming war will be to
carry 1t on at ,Germany's expense.
But" Herr Rechberg was asked,
suppose Germany declared herself
neutral?"
"Then she would be in the same
position as Belgium was in the last
war" he answered. If France re-
spected such a neutrality declaration
she would run the risk Of England
treating it as a scrap Of paper. No,
no. Germany can under no circum-
stances remain neutral in an Anglo
French war. She must choose one
or the other as an ally.
Safer to Join France.
Notwithstanding all that I have
said, an Anglo-German war against
France might not be entirely hope
less-provided that England sue.
ceeded in prolonging 1t. Even with
the help of the CZechs, France could
not occupy the whole OF Germany.
and those parts that would remain
free from invaders would serve as
concentrating areas for Anglo-Ger-
man forces; such Anglo-German op'
erations would logically start from
the coast regions, whence the Ger
man reichswehr would have retired.
England's navy could safeguard the
supply Of such armies.
Such a war would last years. and
ravages would lay Germany in utter
ruin: not a stPe would remain un-
touched.
How much more favorable would
the prospects be for Germany II she
Joined France ut the outbreak Of an
Anglo-French war! AS soon as
France realizes that such a war is
inevitable she will make concrete of.
Iers to Germany. France does not
want to have to fight England with
Germany as a vengeful enemy in her
rear. The day will come-and per
maps very soon-when France will
try to win US as friend and ally.
Inc chances of a Franco-Germa
Val against Engia nd would be extra
ordinarily favorable. Allied with