Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-07
SOVIET REDS SEEN
ACTIVE IN GERMANY
Reports Revived of Alliance
With Political Group That
Plans Another War.
BY Radio to The Star.

bERLlN, september o.-1ue Oiu allc-
cations that secret relations subsist be-
tween the Red Army of Soviet Russia
and the German Reichswehr have been
revived lately in this country with more
vigor than ever, following the recent
developments within the German army.
An alliance between the aristocratic
clique of German army officers and
Bolshevist Russia may seem at first
political generals in the Reichswehr
have long entertained visions of regain
ing the territory Germany lost at YER
sailles by precipitating fresh war in an
alliance with Moscow.
Four years ago evidence was adduced
by Socialist deputies in the Reichstag
proving that aeroplanes and poison gas
were being secretly manufactured In
Soviet Russia for the Reichswehr. Now
the imminent resignation of Gen. VIII
helm Heye as head of the Reichswehr
has given fresh fuel to these accusa-
tions. The Liberal Press maintains
that Heye is antipathic to the political
generals" because of loyalty to the Re-
public and his refusal to countenance
any subterranean connections with the
Bolshevists.
Newspaper Creates Sensation.
A sensational article in Germania
a few days ago gave point to such ac-
cusations. The article attracted more
attention than an ordinary newspaper
editorial on this subject because it en-
anated from a Berlin organ OF the
Catholic Center party-that is to say,
the party of Chancellor Seinrich
Bruening. Germania, which evidently
made a careful inquiry into the matter,
ascertained that the troop Office" in
the Reichswehr headed by Gen Kurt
Won Hammerstein, who is slated to SUI
persede Heye as Reichswehr commander,
had a department for foreign armies"
While admitting that it was perfectly
natural that a troop Office should keep
itself informed about the the state OF
armies in other European countries, ana
that the structure and armament OF
the Soviet army would receive close at
tention, the Center party mouthpiece
went on to say that 1t was something
quite different If expressions, be they
by Gen. Won Hammerstein or by ofhcers
subordinate to him sent TO Russia, were
heard which not only praise the hghtlng
qualities of the Red army but contained
recognition and even sympathy for the
Soviet as a actor in world politics.
Situation Reviewed.
The impression now prevails that at
least within the troop office the rela-
tions with the Soviet Army were fos-
tered with a foreign political vision
which is far more definite and positive
than the conceptions underlying ON
cial German policy at Rapallo ana
Berlin. The Germania even limited
that Hammerstein's nomination as head
of the Reichswehr had received warm
support from the foreign Office, but
WilheImstrasse in fastening to deny 1t
had interviewed in any way in the affairs
of the Reichswehr.
On the very day the Germania pub
lished its startling article the strange
case of Capt Amlinger was brought to
the light of day when his wife, in grief
over his death, flung herself from an
airplane flying from Frankfurt to Erfurt.
The Nationalist press-some suspect at
the inspiration of the chswehr-rep-
resented that Amlinger had broken his
neck a few days before while horse
racing in Russia. But the Berliner
Tageblatt showed that Amlinger, on
the contrary, had met his death in an
airplane accident in Russia, and that
his heart-broken wife had chosen to
die in the same way.
German Press Comment.
Instantly the question arose in the
German press, what was the cavalry
officer of the Reichswehr doing flying
in Russia? The old charges that the
Reichswehr. forbidden to use military
airplanes by the treaty of Versailles,
was surreptitiously training younger Of
ficers in this branch of the service in
Soviet Russia were made. The ReichS-
fokx tel
that Amlinger had been intruSted with
any discreet service or mission" and
stated that he had been retired with
the honorary rank of captain year
ago and was present in Russia as a
private individual.
Unfortunately the Reichswehr min
istry's reputation for veracity stands so
low in Germany that its denial met gen.
eral incredulity. For this reputation
officials of the Reichswehr have only
themselves to blame. This ministry's
general attitude toward the public was
strikingly shown when 1t issued de-
NAL that Heye intended to retire when
this announcement was first made in
the Berlin press Much more reassur-
ing was the statement issued by Gen.
Heye himself, who declared that his
resignation sprang from his own free
will and had no political background.
Heye Assumes Responsibility.
Asserting that he takes full response
bility for what has happened in the
Reichswehr in the last four years, Heye
said: ITO speak of separate policy
for the army or individual officers is
therefore either deliberately or uncon-
sciouSly misguidance OF public opinion"
Even the most virulent opponents of
the ReichSwehr ministry palu tribute to
Heye's own truthfulness, but their
doubts as to what the political gen.
erals" have been doing behind the back
OF this unsuspecting old soldier have
by no means been removed. Nor are
their suspicious any lesSened by the
revelation that Lieut.. Gerstenberg, an
other officer from Capt. Amlinger's regi-
ment, has also gone to Russia. AS
Acht Uhr Abenoblatt commented, it
somehow does not seem natural for
retired German army officers to settle
down as DrOletarianS in Soviet Ruseio