BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1921, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

IUSTP.ALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. THE GERMAN ARMY ALLEGED HOODWINKED ALLIES. '.Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) The “Times” in an article on the German Army plot., asserts Germany is hoodwinking the Allies. I hough the 'German Army is reduced to one hundred thousand, it is recruited, garrisoned and officered as if it were intended to provide fully for a much larger force, and demands are made for ammunition, guns, clothing, and other material which would suffice for an army of between three to eight hundred thousand, for example the guns would he sufficient for half a million. The position is worse as regards fortress guns, because they are asking for twenty times as many as arc required, and also for a more mobile type, which could be plated in tbe field. The Germans argue that, these demands arc openly made, lmt they are also contending that the Allies’ Control Commission e'loght not to lie withdrawn. It is significant that the Germans are unabashed when the demands are refused, and reiterate them or attempt to achieve the same ends hv a subterfuge. As regards arsenals the Germans attempted to obtain permission to produce an armament exceeding the proper quota by threefold. Though the Control Commission refused this. Germany is achieving the same results hv converting two of the largest arsenals allegedly into private firms, hut the Government holds all tho shares in these, preserving the riflenfaking ammunition plants, intact, m the pretext of making sporting firearms. The personnel is ostensibly one hundred thousand of first line troops can he mobilised at a moment’s notice, as a complete organisation exists. This is possible through the so-called demobilisation office, which preserves all the papers, enabling it to he converted instantly into a mobilisation department. The officers corps, the hone and sinew ot the old army remains practically intact.