THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 11, 1940.
CHINA MAIL Men Behind German
-WINDSOR HOUSE
THE NEXT STAGE OF Invasion
DEMOCRACY
The plea voiced in the recent Commons debate 'by several mem- bers, that the present British Par- liament should justify the exten- sion of its normal five-year life by undertaking an Inquiry into the whole machinery and organ- isation of government has made a.considerable impression,
# VICE-ADMIRAL GANG WEGENER.
way
WOLF.
-By-
Of Norway
DR. HERBERT ROSINSKI,
..
and
After the war it was he who, as A. D. C. to-the minister of war Gessler, went to Moscow to estab lish the secret German training- units within the Red Army and remained in charge of them for eight years, until, in 1932, he came to Berlin to ganisation of the of German rearmament.
undertake the or- academic side
"It would have been an under- whole reorganisation of German of Eastern Persia; earning thereby estimate of the intelligence of the naval thought took its course. the highest German order statemen of these countries to as- But his ideas did not acquire Knighthood. together with the the nickname of "the German Law- Herr von Ribbentrop has vain-sume that they would not have their full significance_until
and rence." ly attempted to persuade the been able to understand that Ger-advent of the Third Reich world that the invasion of Nor-many was pressing certain de- the beginning of German rearma- Subsequently he opposed Col. T. was à defensive measure mands upon them for the limited ment brought their realisation E. Lawrence as chief of staff of forced upon a reluctant Germany duration of the conflict only and within reach. In the absence of the Turkish army operating east by the necessity for forestalling merely under the bitter necessity any special ideas of his own on of the Jordan. It needs to be emphasised that an Allied attack against her with of war; demands which, there- naval warfare, Adolf Hitler eag the present war is not fundamen- the connivance of the Norwegian, fore, because not advanced in an erly adopted the Admiral's bold tally between countries and peo- Government.
unfriendly spirit, were well cap and ruthless conceptions, so much well-
so that his study became unor ples, but between parliamentary Imbued with the now
ficially known in naval circles as government and democracy
on standardised Nazi technique of
"Hitler's naval bible." justincation, he the one hand, and dictatorship on aggression and the other.
seems completely to have ignor ed the fact that the idea of an occupation of Denmark and Nor
been plainly foresha- way had dowed many years before Hitler came to power by the German Admiral Wolfgang Wegener who, world at large, has done more than anybody else to shape the present policy of the able of being discussed. To offer German Navy.
themselves of their own account Admiral Wegener had already these States in their own inter- sha argued that the exicting truce been on the retired list for a num-jest were naturally not anxious, between the major political par-ber of years, when in 1928, he but that did not imply that they ties was causing a decline in par-suddenly electrified the whole would not have been willing to liamentary vitality. He called German naval world by a enter sympathetically into nego- for more enlightenment for back- small, but exceedingly. pun- tiations." benchers and more outspoken cri- ticism from them in debate.
Prolongation of Parliament, however, offers a real opportun- ity.
And apart from winning the war, democracy has to demons- trate its efficiency more convin- cingly than hitherto,
Describing as revolutionary the Government's decision to prolong the life of the present British Par- liament without the sanction of 'a general election, Mr. Horc-Bell-
The popular cry has been heard. "We must have no more party politics after the war."
unknown to the
f
Former lecturer nt the German Naval Academy
Out of its strategic ideas there arose between 1936 and 1938 the new doctrine of the German Navy; out of its criticism of Germany's failure to utilise the Danish and Norwegian positions during the World War, the ruthless attack upon these two countries of which we were witnesses.
II COLONEL RITTER VON NIEDERMAYER
von
A favourite of Marshal Blomberg and one of the few of- flcers to join the Nazi party in the summer of 1933, he quickly real- ised the immense opportunities offered by it to an adventurous disposition. like his own and threw himself with all his energy into the task of championing it both in the ranks of the army and in the academic world, meanwhile de- veloping his institute into the Ten years after their first publi- principal centre of German mili- cation plans for improving Gerary studies. memorandum of .some gent
These revolutionary proposals many's strategic position by the It was this soldier-scholar-poli- 80 pages.
In this he mer of Admiral Wegener aroused the occupation of Denmark and Nor-ticlan who, in a lecture on the cilessly exposed the fundamental German Navy as no other
dis- way were elaborated from a dif- "Nord und Ostsee" delivered in errors of German naval strategy cussion had done before. Bit- ferent angle by-Colonel Oscar during the World War and the terly disputed by many of the Ritter von Niedermayer, the Head March, 1987, in a course of lec- tures on the "strategic geography stupidity of the Official History's elder men, they were hailed with of the great Central Institute for of oceans" at the Institut fur attempt to obscure the issue,
So enthusiasm by practically the Military Studies at Bertin Uni-Meereskunde at Berlm-publish-
whole of the younger generation. versity.
ed in the following year under the title of "Kleine Wehrgeographie. de Weltmeeres"-adopted Admiral Wegener's ideas.
as to conceal the complete failure of Admiral von Tirpitz's policy.
To these young men groping des- Colonel von Niedermayer owes A searchlight on events leading
The German Navy, he affirmed
perately for a light to guide them his exceptional position amongst In this study-three years later up to the French collapse has
In the bitter task of the recon- | the leatlers of the present German made generally accessible by greatly encouraged this cry,
The manner in which he made as leading German Naval and Mili-struction of German Sea Power, Army to a unique combination of Wegener's criticism came as a scholarship, daring and political have the revelations of British po-tary publishing ́house, under the clarion call to another and better; ability. A Bavarian -staff -offieer, clear, in carefully veiled yet ut- litical manoeuvring which led to title "Seestrategie des Weltkric-directed effort, while his emphasis he first sprang into the
terly unmistakable language, Britain entering the war inadeges"-had utterly
public Germany's interests in and de- failed to Un- quately prepared.
derstand the true nature of naval upon the true nature of naval limelight in 1815 when he led the mands upon her northern neigh- determination, to But close questioning of those war. Misled by the German tra- warfare struck them with the German Diplomatic Mission to bours and her
force of revelation. From his Afghanistan, destined to incile take them under her protection în who cry "no more party politics"ditions of land warfare, it had often discloses that they have no seen in war at sea merely a mills.udy, as an arden: young admire that country against India, through time of war, constitutes, a master- the deserts piece of tongue-in-the-cheek dip- practical alternative to the party tary clash between the two op- er testified a few years later, the the Allied lines and
lomacy. system. In fact, what they are posing navies and not, as it should usually attacking is the condition have done, a struggle for .of party politics, or, as Canon command of vital sea communica-
Roger Lloyd summed it up in an article in the "Spectator"; "Party politics are necessary to a true democracy provided they
tions.
The result had been
the
that
throughout the war the German Navy had concentrated, as though
to
Surrey Hide-out
handlebars, harassed Londoners on his offer
for
programme of the parties to which utilise the second exit available By Peter Lyne
in
limits.
an
J
D
ỚC
·
"I," he said "during the World. War the possibilities of an attack carried over sea against Germany were small in the present era of air warfare, this northern front
The countryside round London Wapshott, dashing about on a bi-gains additional importance. Ger- are hypnotised, upon the one idea of isn't the haven of rest and quiet cycle, without any. illumination many has therefore a vivid inter healthy, and they can only be bringing the Grand Fleet to bat- it used to be. But at least we and balancing a fire extinguisher est in the maintenance of the full healthy when they express a true tle under favourable circum-, can
was voted and equal neutrality of the minor cleavage of principle which really stances in the North Sea, without more space in which to dodge the afterwards to have been almost powers bordering upon these two northern seas, the free use of their exists in the Nation."
realising that the latter, from the bombs. An opportunity to esas terrifying as the 'bombs.
Around 9:30 we have to admit territorial waters for her mer- This view is endorsed by-poli-point of view of control of-com-cape for a few hours from that tical observers, who paint out munications, was a "strategically feeling of being shut up in the enemy 'planes are usually pass- chant shipping and the prevention
of dead area."
bombers that the fundamental views
metropolis with
overing over our house in more or of an extension of her defensive different politicians are
The proper strategy of the Ger- head, brings visitors
the less constant succession and there fronts in this direction. These often
may be a good deal of noise from states have been so long immune only vaguely represented by the man Navy would have been
gunfire and bombs. Ten o'clock from attack that they do not con- ought to be the visitor's-bedtime, stitute themselves a danger for they belong-in fact there is often through the Kattegat and Skager-
since he needs a good night's us or allow somebody else to rak for a flanking advance against much more similarity between the the British position at Scapa Flow night to our Surrey cottage even rest, but that's the time the head threaten us across them.
"They must however realise views of certain small groups instead of rushing the Danes in a though, judging by past experi- warden usually telephones me to
around for unexploded that questions of national...exis-, within one party and those of pol-sudden panic to close and neu-ence, we are just as likely to be look
tence have in the last resort to be iticians in other parties than with tralise it.
bombed as they are in Kensing- bombs.
solved by force. There is a series those members of their own party. "The German strategic offen-ton or Maida Vale.
When we have liberated
show a visitor the At 11 o'clock the police have of strategically important posi- This was illustrated in the case sive that should of many "young Conservatives" our feet from painful captivity in spare room, instead of pointing a habit of phoning to ask if any tions in their possession, which in dahilla bed, we bombs have been located. Also, a war would constitute import- a belligerent years immediately preceding the Heligoland Bight had there- proudly to the the outbreak of this war.- fore to be the reopening of the now draw attention to the copse my wife may be called out at any ant objectives for
understanding with up the lane. "There's a batch of time, complete with tin hat and wishing to attack his opponent Their real place appeared to be Belts,
one merely wishing to defend him- rather in some "Liberal" or Cen-Denmark about the use of her unexploded bombs behind it," we A.R.P. regalia, to act as mes- across them, but equally so for.
"So don't be alarmed senger, using our car. territorial waters and control of explain. tre Party, but none existed.
a big bang in that If bombs drop while she is self against such an attack. the Scandinavian trade route", if there's
"I would like to mention here Such a situation should not be
direction. We've been assured away complications are such, we wrote the Admirál.
warn our visitor, he might be merely the South West Coast of deplored, but rather welcomed,
The Norway, the Danish-Swedish "The next stage in the progress we are out of range of damage."
on for assistance, there We add since it shows that British politi-of our offensive would have been
was another called cians themselves realise that far- the occupation of the southern bunch of time bombs about the dogs must be stopped barking, a Narrows, Gotland and the Aaland four children and protect their neutrality effectively, reaching changes are going on to- part of Norway, which, it is true, same distance away on the other quick decision made on whether Islands. If these states wish to dhy, extending far beyond party we should first have had to liber-side of the house, but they went to wake the
off yesterday. We then acquaint marshal them in the supposedly they must take care that its in- Watch fringement should appear as a ate from British oppression. The our visitor with the nightly rou safest room the hall.
That, Political circles in Britain gen- argument that such a war policy line of a rural air raid warden's must be kept ousite for "in-real risk to an aggressor.
however, to-day is the case only. cfálly tend to support the view carrying our fleets through
post, and try to give him a rough cidents." Kattegat would that democracy must be based on Belts into the
idea of what he may hear so that Midnight dog-exercise is an with a few amongst them and for a good look only with great qualifications. the party system. What alterna- have been impracticable does not even if he is awakened, his rest opportunity
...One should not shall be as little disturbed as round, for another view of Lon-Their measures of const defence tive is there to party politics other hold water.
error of believing possible.
don fireworks, a thought for the are largely wholly inadequate. than dictatorship? But they are fall into the
"Ahd one more point; the poli- 'We describe how twilight, is an Londoners themselves, and oc- mostly ready to admit that there that States which, by the accident
Enemy planes casionally a reassuring chat with tical attitude of the governments. is ample opportunity for im-of their geographical position, awkward hour.
folk anxiously and peoples concerneti is of Vital have got mixed up in a world war try to sneak round to an arma- nearby cottage Frovements in the existing sys between great powers would not ment factory about five miles staying up long past their norimportance in determining a truly Going to bed neutral attitude. That National- of themselves have felt the most away before scarchlight beams mal bed-time. Within a nation there are al-urgent necessity for negotiations become effective, It
in ourselves is a lingering process, Socialist Germany has reason for ways dozens of cleavages," "says as well as the desire to keep on this between-light that several protracted by a sense of duty, serious misgivings in this, respect Canon Lloyd.The problem is to friendly terms with so powerful machines attacked our little vil-Thereafter our head warden calls anybody who reads the Baltic and dropping twelve up by phone only in an emer- Nordic Press will realise. As for find that cleavage which reaches a factor as Germany was at that lage recently,
bomby, demolishing a number of gency, Mostly we sleep though the importance of Holland's posi right down to something very time.
workmen's cottages, but miracul- the drone of planes, the thrump tion in aerial strategy, so much' deep, and divides the people into
ously causing only one minor of guns, and the crash of bombs has been written upon it that it is two approximately ‘equil groups.}
continues.
merely necessary to touch upon it Then you have a party which es will be on international issues in-casualty.
Our visitors usually sleep, too, here." pouses each sido and then the stead of domestic.
especially if they are used to Here then, three years before. parliamentary system has a chance And this surely will be appro- In this attack, incendiary nights in shelters and the close Ribbentrop's White Book, we ind to work creatively."
priate in the task of building a bombs were also scattered in the up boom of the London barrage, the whole case for the occupation:
I had my first ex- We can't any longer offer quiet Clearly the old party cleavage new European or even world or fields and of greater social equality will der, when it is hoped lessons of perience of putting them out. Jim, broken only by the song of the of these countries on the plea of cease to be a sufficiently effective the post will be applied chiefly farmhand from up the road, was nightingales, but we can offer a their connivanco with an enemy spur to parliamentary virility, the need for the abolition of ecoso excited he couldn't work the bed in a cottage, o hide-out in a of Germany developed in advance Surrey Inne for from the glant by one of the officers in the closest
contact with the hands of the Ger since virtually all those elements nomic frontier limitations, and for stirrup pump handle,
"Try a bit of dirt," he said as metropolis. now constituting Britain's War- some system of collective security nothing but air came out of the Most of all, we half-time Lon man War Machine, with a subtlety time government are agreed or which will supersede the old
nozzle.
So wo scooped earth doners can pay unbounded tri- | of implication that shows clearly fur the Germair Defenes the absolute necessity of. greater conception of state sovereignty over the sputtering lumps of bute to the wonderful courage of how
travelled from the social equality.
which has proved so ineffective white-hot magnesium, and they those who are Londoners by Forces had
blunt frankness of the World War. Perhaps, therefore, the cleavage against aggression.
went out quite quickly, George right as well as by day.
tem:
the
10
was