The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1919. GERMANY TIED DOWN.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1919. GERMANY TIED DOWN.

No one can read the military, naval and aerial terms to be imposed on Germany without coming to the conclusion that the aim of the Allies in the war will be accomplished, and that militarism has been crushed. It is stipulated that the total effectiveness of the German army must never exceed 100,000, including officers and troops in depots. With a "contemptible" army of that size Germany will be absolutely harmless, especially as a veto is placed on the existence of either army staff or general staff. The only munitions allowed are those which are notified to the Allies, and these are limited to a maximum of 2500 rounds for each gun of 10.6 centimetre, and 500 rounds for the heavier guns, while war material can only be manufactured at factories notified to the Allies, all. others being closed within two months of peace being signed. Neither can Germany import war material, use poisonous gasses nor armored cars. The establishment of a zone of fifty miles on the Bhine wherein all fortifications must be dismantled and no new forts constructed is a very proper precaution, and it is only reasonable that Germany should be permitted to have fortified works on the southern and eastern frontiers as a safeguard against a possible Bolshevik invasion. With the limitation of the army, it was, of course, necessary to restrict the number of rifles, carbines, machine guns and field artillery, together with the ammunition then-

for, and the maximum allowed is evidently strictly confined to the requirements for maintaining internal order and frontier protection, these being the two purposes for which the army is allowed to be used. Thus is Germany's military pomp and glory, to the! perfecting of which the Hohenzollerns subordinated all other State activities, destroyed by the stroke of a pen, and by the same means the Germans are relieved from an incubus that has weighed heavily on them for several generations, and imposed on them infinite suffering and humiliation. The terms had to be drastic because Germany could not be trusted. Apparently there is no loophole for escape from the stringent conditions laid down. The Empire vvas built by the sword, and by the same weapon its power for war has been crushed to atoms. The naval terms are equally complete for ensuring permanent peace. All submarines, salvage vessels, and docks, including the Kiel tubular dock, are to be handed over to the Allies, their ultimate fate beisg reserved. Germany is not allowed even to export the material gained from breaking up warships; the construction of new ships is prohibited, except for replacements, and a satisfactory limit is fixed as to the tonnage of the replacements, as well as the time of service of such ships. Other important restrictions are that the naval personnel must consist of volunteers for twenty-five years' service for officers and twelve years for men, the discharged personnel not to receive military or . naval training, the same stipulation as to training covering the officers and men of the mercantile marine. The destraetion of the Heligoland forts and establishments is fully justi fled, and it is only right that Germany should bear the cost of »his work. No final decision has been arrived at as to Heligoland harbor, owing to the consideration for the

fishermen, but it would be a justifiable step to render that harhor of no use to any other class of ships except those used by fishermen for the purpose of their vocation. The navy has been restrict ed to the bare needs for coastal defence—six battleships, siv light cruisers, twelve destroyers and a like number of torpedoers, the per sonnel being reduced to 15,000. The confiscation of all German warships not in German ports may be regarded as satisfactory, as is a'so the destruction of all warships now beirig built, while the conversion of auxiliary cruisers and fleet auxiliaries into merchantmen will commend itself as a very proper condition. Free passage to the Baltic is assured by the destruction of all fortifications, and the dismantling of the Kiel canal is evidence of the complete elimination of Germany as a naval power. In dealing with the aerial force it is quite conceivable that difficulties presented themselves, but the solution arrived at should suffice to prevent this force from being a menace, though there would appear to be room and justification for more stringent provisions than those evolved. An air force of a thousand men is capable of doing considerable mischief, and though the air clauses provide that Germany's armed forces must not include any air forces except a few hydroplanes the door is left open for future trouble in this direction. Taken as a whole, however, the terms ap pear to have been well thought out, and as there are to be interAllied Commissions charged with carrying out the terms, at Germany's expense, there seems no reason to doubt that they will accomplish the aim the Allies had in view—the extinction of militarism.