Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-10-17
THE THREATENED EUROPEAN WAR

Ihe probabilities Of general war in Europe
are discussed in European circles with an
anxlety that shows how little weight is attac hed
to the professedly peaceful utterances of the
ieadirg Continental powers There seems to
oe no doubt that Napoleon really means war.
ne work OF organizing and armIng the militia
OF France on scale CT completeness and ex-
tent to correspond with the military system of
Prussia is continued with increasing activity
and energy. The grss. contest Will b., of
course. between France and PRUSSIA, and from
present appearances may be confined 10 them.
1t has been supposed that an alliance existed
between Prussia and Russia. based upon the
protection % their mutual interests: but the
Russian organs indicate clearly enough tina,
Russia will not JOIN in a war against France
IL might be thought that Russia had got As
much as she could Well stand in the way of
war with France, bat this does not az pear to
be the reason why the Gar VIII not fight. 1,
seems that the price LIE asked for his services
was great deal more than they were worth
He demanded posses sion Of Il Iuna MIA, ma king
the Danube the sou thern boundary of Russia.
and leaving Prince Charles OF Hohen zolIen
without scrap of the possessions he has
labOred SO hard to improve.
But the policy of Bismarck has been to have
IN ROunania an impossible barrier TO the am
oition OF Russia. Though this region is far
distant from Russis, vet he holds that the dan
ger threatened by Russia 10 Western Europe
by her Constant aggressiOIs can ouIy b. couu-
Jgracted by means OF some strong barrier on
The Turkish fToni4er, under partial control OF
Prussia.
The French policy Is more direct, and aims
al the n constructing OF the kingdom of Poland,
with France Napoleon as the sovereign. The
greed of Russia for the possession of Roumanil
is so great that the Car is now induced by
French diplomacy 20 sand of and let France
attack Prussia alone, with a sort OF understand
ing thai, in case OF the dissolution ID Turkey,
the Danube shall De The boundary OF Russia.
OF course whea the time came for carrying
out the U4leTsiandIng, Enslanu and Austria
would p "a a veto Of any dismembermeat OF
Turkey. But Russia seems willing 10 take the
chances Of such result somehow Coming on
and Napoleon Is Of course too as,u,s 10 hint az
any dificUltIss. Italy has openly announced
that she Will stand aloof IN the contest. and
Austria sgniisd 10 Napoleon hc- in1Isposition
10 60 TO war At the very outset. S,ain had
been regarded a. the practical ally of y Ipola ON,
and was dePeEeei upon to garrison Rome in
place OF the French. But the whole peninsula
Is il the blaze Of civil war, and Spain as there
lore OUt of the question altogether.
We must regard the struggle as between
Prussia and France singly. The uncertain
ties CT the contest are so great that even if all
the lesdiDg Powers were Zee 10 take part they
would - very unlikely to DO so. In the or
ganiZatiC.. Of what is called the North German
Confederation the entire military csntroI was
secured 10 Prussia. This includes all the old
Federal States except Bayaria. Baden aud
WiTtemberg and the Austrian States. In the
subseq Uent secret treaty with the South Ger
man States. they gave TO Prussia the same mil
ltary control OF their forces IN war, and al
though French and Austrian inrIgues have
sull stands and will be enforced.
The war on the part OF France is well under
stood to be TO secure the Rhine boundary. and
this fact alone would suffice - make it a Ger
man war. In such a struggle every German
north cf the Rhine would be prepared 10 fight
for Prussia or 10 wish her success, and the ex-
perienee OF the Austrian war shows that Bis
marck and Moltke would at the outset push
their armies rapidly through South Germany
are familiar with ali these lines of action, and
their armies have marched and fought over
them for centuries. They are as quick In their
movements as Moltke can possibly be. and
hence IL Will be dificult to foresee the issue
Prussia is really not ANXIOUS for war at the
present time, being very DESTROYS of more time
10 consolidate her possessions; but If Napoleon
shcll be foolish enough 10 renew the ancient
struggle fer the Rhine boundary 1t will give
chtain in any other way.