Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-22
RETURN Of. berlin
!. WAR CHIEF IS SEEN
GessIer's Career Believed
Far From Ended-Expected
Back When Health Improves.
BY DIR. GUSTAV sToLrER.

BY RADIO ,osghe, Star. s'1ess y
BERLIN. January; Bias DR.. ottt
Gessler leaves the war ministry. tree
man. broken BY family misfortuncs. il
Is timely to inquire how far he sue.
eeeded in accomplishing his task OF
training the new German army into q
dependable instrument Of the republic
DR.. GeSSler's problem was perhaps the
most impossible of all the Versailles
peace dictateS-the problem of dis arm
ing Germany alone in the midst Of an
overmilitari2ed Europe
After the Knapp putsch in 1920. wher,
he became minister of defense. succeed
ing the Socialist. NoSke. GeSsler found
only a pile OF ruins on which he must
build slowly.
Under Severe Strain
II was GeSsler who was obliged py the
Allied Control Commissions dictate TO
diSarm and reduce the army proper
tionS. 1t was Gessler who put down the
monarchist putSch in Bavaria and Cue
Strin. and who also was obliged al the
same time to employ the reichswehr
against the Communists in Saxony
GeSSier's nerves were strained above
all by the unoroken chain of demands
made by the allies until only few
months ago, when the humiliatine
control commission departed
And IN the midst OF all these hap
pcningS the impossible had TO be at
tempted-to make mercenary army of
100000 men, without heavy artillery.
tanks or airplaneS, an instrument that
could play any role Whatever for the
defense Of Germany's borders
Whether the attempt succeeded Is
very doubtful. but in considering the
political problem of Germany'S armed
forces 1t must be remembered that the
Kernel of this new army was naturally
the officers of the proudeSt army the
world ever Saw-officers of the old
Prussian military tradition whose daily
labors reminded them more than was
the case, with other German citizens
Row the German people had been
humhled by the lost war.
Only one who understood this
psychic disunion was IN a position
gradually TO train the armv's leaders
TO an understanding of present day
realities. That GeSsler was best fitted
Tor the task was the unshakeable belief
o. two Presidents.
Hindenbury Behind Him.
President Ebert once threatened to
resign If Gesslef. left. and Gessler re-
NAMED. President Hindenburg also
stood behind him when confronted
Eith a choice between Gessler ana
Gen. Won Saeckt who had. behind
Gessler's back. permitted a Hohen-
Solern prince to enter the army.
But the Left parties had less under
standing for this. For them Gessler
bore the responsibility for all things
done or undone Hence he left the
Democratic party a year ago and al
though there Is no doubt that he was
Q democratic republican, he moved
steadily. but imperceptibly. toward the
But the writer does not believe Cess
hrs political career in GERMANY is
ended When he regains his health
We politicians viii have to reckon With
him.
! Cessler proposed Gen. Groener as hi.
successor Groener is regarded ever
ov the Left as a dependable republican
He was one Of the best organizers o,
me old army and was minister of traf.
nc In the Wirth. Fehrenbach and Cunc
cabinets. He will remain. even If the
coming elections bring government:
er1ented further to the Left.
fCopyrigh'. 1892