GERMANY’S ARMS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1932, Page 2

GERMANY’S ARMS

EQUIPPED BUT NOT OPENLY. LONDON,, October 20. French, allegation® of, German evasions of disarmament possess foundation, declares the Berlin correspondent of ‘"’The Times,’.' although they suffer through keeping and exaggerated vagueness, and when more precise are GdßHEiproved to be ‘‘mares’ .neats,” like the “artillery park” in Holland, which is composed merely of scrap iron, „ . Nevertheless, it u to pretend that German military arrangements /fcaifcoOemained primitive', as this' Versailles Treaty framers intended, Indeed, evasions best described as [‘wanjgles” are notable. For instance, Germany js not allowed anti-tank and antiaircraft 'guns. Consequently “dummies” 'are fused in manoeuvres, which, although they have wooden barrels, are complete in other , details. It wan'd toot take long to substitute steel' barrels. y ~, .ry. } Similarly, Germany is forbidden tanks, but is permitted to manufacture Caterpillar 'chassis and armour-plate, jThe Reichswehr uses caterpillars sur(mounted by cardboard tanks, which jobviously we replaceable, i Moreover, Germany is not permitted military aircraft, but manufactures which are assembled and fitted (with iMachine-guns in' branch factories ■abroad. Thus the- Germans are cap-;.-iab!e /of producing military ’planes, ;%hM |d’rmindedne?s is developed by iyo-ungstens being trained in gliding, £hus providing material for war pilots. ' There are also cases of real infraction notoriously the Reichswehr officer • who was killed in an air crash in showing the possibilities of ’srsn\n| Germans in forbidden arms. 'jf,. ■■ v * ,' .