DISARMING THE GERMANS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 61, 6 December 1920, Page 6

DISARMING THE GERMANS

"Deliver up your weapons," great; post-ers-all over Berlin have been shouting for some time past. September 11 was first disarmament day, 'out at first tho people were rather suspicious. TtTfegan to be feslioved, however, that there really was no trick in the matter, and a brisk business in arms and ammunition set in (says the Berlin correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle"). Government depots have ber-u established in various parts of tho city, and at nearly all of them there have been queues of people waiting to dispose of their war trophies. , . As is known, this disarmament is in, accordance with the demand of the Entente, and it mainly aimed at the Einwohnerwehr, tho scmn-militarv semi-police force, the existence of which is regarded as outside tho terms of tho Versailles Peace Treaty. Ono huudred marks is being paid for every rifle, 30 for revolvers, and 1000 for machine-guns. _ So people are parting with.their war trophies, for up to the present it if - mainly French and British rifles,, etc., which are being surrendered; few German weapons have been handed.over as yet. " . At some depot? there were curious sights. At one an aged man oame along with n big bosket full of rifle cartridges, while at another an old woman arrived with a cart, on which she brought ten machine-guns and 180 revolvers. • When tho spectators saw her cartload there were loud cheers for tins warlike., dame. The value of her arsenal was 15,400 marks (nominally £770), and messengers had to be sent post haste to tho bank, as the depot had not such a largo Tnthe'iofthecityayoung--' man attracted much attention by dragging a small trench mortar through the streets to another depot, whore she arrived just after-a messenger tajW^ grenades rendered usele ß s on the spot.