WATCH ON THE RHINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1919, Page 5

WATCH ON THE RHINE.

ALLIED PRECAUTIONS. ENORMOUS WELL-ARMED FORd* TO BE MAINTAINED (Wellington Times' Correspondent.;' London, December 18, The allocation of Rhineland areas < military occupation follows the strati - gic disposition of the Allied forces 1 tlio field. The Belgians come Sri holding the extreme north, next tho British, with Cologne as their German base; then the French in tho centre; then the Americans; and, lost of all, ,in the Alsace-Lorraine river frontage, our splendid friends and comrades the French once more. So far as one hears, it seems that about three million Allied troops, lacked by an immense concentration of guns and quick-firing automata, will keep the Watch on the Rhine. There will be nearly a million each of French, British, and Americans in the line, with the balance made up of King Albert's eilicient and well-seasoned Belgian troops. The position will be such that, with the Allied guns covering each Rhine bridgehead as a. convenient military point d'appui, the least hostile sign on Germany's part, the smallest symptom of the old Hun Adam at the peace Conference, and the Allies would be instantly deploying across the Rhine, and Marshal Foch, who knows his Boche, and keeps him on t firm snaffle, would be playing vae viatis on the shortest route to Berlin. Nothing of this kind is to bo anticipated, however, though it might do the Germans all the good in the world, and would undoubtedly please the Allied troops immensely. ,If the Allies cross the Rhine in armed array, it will. be only in order to suppress red riot and keep the peace for the Germans. That possibility is not altogether remote, though it is hoped by those who want to see Germany pay up for her little war game that it will not arise. A stable Government and tranquil public in Germany are what the Allies want. They want to have someone to sign the cheques for Germany. On the whole, tho signs are propitious. The German autocracy Ims gone, but its efficient bureaucracy remains, and the mater'mlistic horse-sense, of the German people may pull the wretched country out of the Bolshevik fires. On the whole, the retreating German armies have been kept well in hand, and have not behaved so outrageously to their own people. But at Cologne there was some looting and riotous conduct by the "field greys," which resulted, at the burgomaster's request, in British cavalry with Maxims being sent up. HAIG AND HIS CAPTAINS. Tho official welcome to Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig and his Generals is to take place at a later date. But they are coming home this week on Christmas leave and there is every indication that the popular reception awaiting them will shake the spheres a little. Writing before the event one has no hesitation in predicting that London and the country generally will greet the men of victory in a fashion that will make complete amends for anyscurvy treatment that tho politicians and the party intriguers may have dealt out to them. There are very unpleasant rumours going abroad about the personal relationship of Sir Douglas Haig and statesman at home who do not wish to have their reputations overshadowed by mere soldiors. It is a vain hope. How many people who arc perfectly familiar with the names of Marlborough, Wellington and Nelson, could mention the names of those Ministers of the Crown at homo who held office, and hugged their folios, at the moment of lighting victories? It is said in Clubland that Sir Douglas Haig was invited to attend in London a fortnight ago when Marshal Foch and M. Clemencouu and the Italian statesmen were here, but that he was offered such a conspicuous back seat that he quietly turned down the offer. At the moment an official attempt is being 1 made in rather desperate haste to explain these rumors away and to set the politicians right in the* public eye, but I am bound to say, knowing the facts, come of which cannot at present be ntated, the attempt carries very little eonviction. This Christmas home-coming from the Western front will bo a very memorable occasion. London will not again have the chance, except, perhaps aAhe official home-coming later on, which mav not prove more or loss of an anti-climax, of greeting straight from the front and bronzed with victory another six such • great captains as Sir Douglas Haig and the five Generals who, under him, commanded our armies on the Western front. The occasion wi|J have a rca! Elizabethan flavor. ON THE RHINE. A friend who was lately in France, - mid who is now in Germany with his J war-worn battalion, sends a tine descrip- * lion of recent events out there. "Dur- • ing tho few days immediately pveecdinc I the reception of the great news" he J writes "there was absolutely nothing to suggest that the roar and clatter of four * years was nearly over. About S o'clock * ion the morning of the mi,, Armistice ■■ lay, our division was moving up j tt , ? lighting order to relieve another in the \ ordinary way in the front line. \fter * slogging along the shell-battcrcd road X a little over a mile, a Staff car hauled 1 «P alongside, and we were curtlv in- % formed that the Armistice had "been I signed. There was no excitement, no *■ t B HA S ' Z hat - w »ving. The column S IS * he news P» SSC(I d <»™ f«"i ■' mouth to mouth. Everybody smiled J in a constrained sort of way. The ! solemnity of tho occasion was over- } powering, but the general thankfulness t WM deep and profound. Wo imme- F diately pushed forward on tho heels of the retreating enemy through liberated ' tracts of France and Belgium that wero ' cheerful with flags and tearful with wcl- ■■'• come. As we went we met little groups ■ ot our men returning from the hands of /- the Hun, all terribly weak and cmaei- • ated, the mere shadows of their former gallant selves."