ARMING FOR DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 22450, 22 September 1936, Page 9

ARMING FOR DEFENCE

GERMAN MILITARY MACHINE ■R LLOYD GEORGE’S VIEWS RULER'S ADMIRATION FOR BRITAIN £mk As«ocl»tion —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 20. Germany does not desire to attack any country in Europe. Herr Hitler is arming for defence, not attack,” said Mr Lloyd George during » five-column interview with the ‘ NewsChronicle ’ containing impressions of his visit to Germany. Mr Lloyd George •dded: “My conviction is that for at least 10 years war between Russia and Germany is impracticable. Even if Germany desired war, which she doesn’t, the German army could not he ready in that time. It is at present formidable for defence owing to the splendid spirit of the men and firstclass equipment, with powerful eastern and western fortifications, but it could not march across the frontiers with hope of success as it does not possess the weapons, trained officers, or trained men for such an enterprise. Herr Hitler admitted to someone I met that the army would not be an attacking force for 16 to 20 years. Herr Hitler has a fanatical hatred of Bolshevism, but scoffs at the suggestion that he intends to march on Moscow or covets the .Ukraine. Although Herr Hitler naturally wants Memel and Danzig, which are German, as Hull is English, he does not desire to absorb millions of Slavs whom he despises, and would regard it as offending against racial purity. I think there is genuine apprehension of a Russian attack. On the other hand a very able German soldier told Sne that Russia’s hopelessly defective transport organisation makes an invasion of Germany of any magnitude an impossibility for 10 years. It is a great misfortune that European democracies are not producing great leaders. Dictators are acting while democratic leaders are fumbling. lam convinced that a strong executive in Britain conld accomplish much more than Herr Hitler in Germany owing to our greater financial resources, and Parliament would respond to a strong executive. Herr Hitler profoundly admires the British, and Germans of all classes share that admiration, desiring British friendship. Germans repeatedly ■aid ■to me, ‘We have had only one quarrel with England, and. we must never have another.’ ” LARGE-SCALE MANOEUVRES BERLIN, September 21. Sffrmy manoeuvres on the most stupendous scale for 20 years were Opened in Central and Southern Germany in the presence of Generals von Blomberg and Goering. The Air Force, tanks, and mechanised artillery cooperated, and everything was reminiscent of the grandeur of the Kaiser days. Herr Hitler is expected for the later manoeuvres and the first test pf the Youth Army called up last year.