Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-13
Germany's Ten Years.

Germany has just celebrated the
tenth anniversary Of the republic as
exemplif1ed by the proclamation Of the
constitution at Weimar in August. 1919.
1t is a striking coincidence that the
commemoration occurs ut moment
when German achievements, in va
riety of directions, are challenging the
worlds attention to a degree unparal-
leled at any period during the inter-
vening decade. The Reich enters upon
its new decennial Of republican ex-
istence not only as q full-hedged men,
Der Of the family of nations, but one
which has rewon its spurs, after q dis
astrouS defeat in war, with q rapidity
and completeness almost without COM
pare in history. Though the world
was inclined at first to shudder when
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg as
sumed the presidency, fearing that 1t
meant the restitution Of the military
spirit in Berlin, Germany has mag
nificently demonstrated the unjuStid-
ability of such anxieties. She has
dedicated herself intensively to the arts
Of peace under the aegis of the Weimar
constitution and the Hindenburg presi-
dency Today Germans are making
themselves mighty in trade and COM
merce and in science and invention.
The World War devastated them as q
military power. Hourly proof is forth
coming that it signally failed to ami
hilate their skill and strength in the
fields where Mars is not supreme.
Run down merely the list Of things
which have riveted our attention on
German accomplishments in recent
times. From the loins Of German ship
wrightS springs the Bremen, queen Of
the seas. To German aeronautical
genius mother earth pays unstinted
tribute as the great dirigible Graf Yep
pelin prepares to embark upon the
second leg of her globe-girdling cruise,
after two triumphant crossings Of the
Atlantic ut lightning speed.
Shackled by the Versailles treaty as
to the extent TO which she may re-
construct o navy, German warship
builders proceed to design . cruiser
within the limits Of the Reich rights
said to be the equal in fighting effect
iveness Of two Of the finest types Of
cruiser now building for either the
American or British navy.
Does one crave an example Of Ger
many's comeback" in yet another
domain-a domain possibly less i'm
pressive than the industrial or the
scientific, yet one by no means insig-
nificant? 1t can be found in the fact
that O sturdy son Of the Fatherland,
22-year old Max Schmeling, is today
acclaimed by no less an authority than
our own Mr.. Grantland Rice as the
outstanding claimant to the worlds
heavyweight boxing championship. Be-
fore the war the idea Of German
John L. Sullivan would have made the
whole caulihower industry snort with
derision. Now Q Prussian Lad, about to
do battle in America, Is held the like
Hest next wearer Of the crown that
Dempsey lost and Tunney renowned.
Who shall venture to predict, with O
ten-year postwar record Of this caliber,
what the Germany Of 1899, or 1859,
will be like? 1t is safe to foreshadow .
Reich that viii be marching exceed
ingly close to the head, If not actually
at the front, of the international pro-
cession. II their maiden decade Of re-
publicanism Is an augury Of the years
to follow, the Germans progress
toward world leadership can arouse in
the rest Of mankind nothing but emo
tons Of admiration. It would be well
II those feelings are tinctured with O
healthy realization that unless the rest
Of US are up on our toes, we may awake
to find ourselves hopelessly outdis-
tanced by the country Palm --ston once
called that damned land of pi ofessors."