GERMANY WITHIN.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1919, Page 4

GERMANY WITHIN.

(By Electric Telegraph—bopynght.; THE GERMAN DANGER. LONDON, Nov. . 20. , Commenting on its Berlin correspondent’s messaged the “Times” says the information is attested by many independent observers, and shows ; that now 700,000 German soldiers Are .under arms. It is authoritatively known that Herr Noske is busily organising special military guards in all cities, ostensibly for protection against Spartacists, but totalling 300,000, a formidable, thoroughly disciplined and equipped force ,all recruited from the noncommissioned ranks of the Imperial Army. , : The present German spirit is shown by thq German Governments attempt to prevent Allied officers wearing uniforms while in Berlin, combined with hostile demonstrations and insults from German officers, who are openly boasting that the day <sf reckohing is coming. Information recently received in London suggests the German Military Party is deliberately preparing for armed action against the Allies. Herr Noske is consciously-, acting as a warm-ing-pan for monarcliial and, militarism restoration. A majority of the officers belonging to the Hohenzolleren Association. The organisation is flourishing unchanged by* Noske who recently took repressive measures against the Military Republican Association which includes a small minority of officers.

THREATENED RISINGS. BERLIN, November 21

By making a strong display of force, in Berlin,. Herr Noske, the military head, during the past week has prevented serious disorders on the occasion when Hindenburg and Ludendorff attended the War Responsibilities Committee.

| A young lieutenant, acting as chairman of a German national union gathering, made a violent speech to a crowd of demonstrators. He denounced the authorities as a Jewish Government, which is rilled by that traitor Oscar Cohn.

.Ultimately the Reutenant was arrested, but his followers continued to si:ont :*—“Down with the Jewish Government! Long live the Kaiser!” To this the Spnrtacists replied.—“ Down with the murderers of the masses! Long liv e the world revolution!” The ringleaders of the demonstration were arrested.

There is considerable apprehension felt on the situation. There are now nearly 750,000 men under arms in Germany. Ostensibly they are for internal .policing duties.

The disintegration of Colonel Bermond’s troops, in the Baltic is leading to their return in considerable force to Berlin, where they are likely to to join with the Monarchist . supporters, thus adding to the fear of a fresh revolution.

When Hindenburg and Ludendorff went before the War Enquiry Committee, the streets round the Reichstag swarmed with security police, which to the uninitiated eye are not distinguishable from the soldiers. There were ma-chine-guns i n readiness everywhere. The guards within tile Reichstag were trebled.

Though it may seem astounding, howHindenburg retains his wonderful hold over the people’s imagination, he is regarded as the sayiour of the Fatherland, while Ludendorff is the Minister who shoulders the responsibility. Though the latter has a finer brain, he looks comparatively commonplace beside Hindenburg. , Both men have tendered evidence, Aut with a formal reservation that they were not compelled to do so. Their statements were hackneyed. They asserted that neither the German people, the Kaiser, nor the Government, and last of all the General Staff, wanted war. Their statements culminated with a charge that the treachery of th e Independent Socialists had alone robbed Germany of victory. Herr Gothein, Chairman of the Committee, reproved both for their violent language, against the Independents. ■Ludendorff passionately denounced Count Bernstorff, who, he said, had besmirched his honour in regard to American mediation.

“Gothein defended BernstorfF, which infuriated LudendorfF, still inore. At the War. 'Responsibility Enquiry, Count BernstorfF declared that General LudendorfF said in May, 1917: “We’ don’t want peace at all!”

When this was mentioned before the Committee, LudendorfF. passionately cried:—“l never said this. It is an insult to niy responsibility !” ■Hindenburg also excitedly declared that LudendorfF always worked for peace, but for an honourable peace.