, 1875-05-12
NJ AND AUSTRIA.
from the SpectatOr.)

Ln6F6 Is one pocullaTlty III Lu6 SlCuoIIOn Va
Germany to which EngIishmen do not as yet
we think, pay quite sufficient attention. 1t IS
very doubtful whether the statesmen aud SOL
diers whoguide b edestinies of the Empire the
Emperor, Prince Bismarck, Count Won Moitke,
She Grown Prince, and Prince Frederick
Charles-as yet think its military position
safe. So sudden and complete we're the VIC
tories OF 1866 and 1870, so utterly were Aus
tria and France Frustrated, SO perfect seemed
the mechanism of the German military machine,
that Englishmen scarcely understand how
Germans can be anxious, and wonder why
they cannot, like Englishmen and Americans,
content themselves with the peaceful accumula-
tion of wealth. No power dare attack them,
and no power Of the military kind ventures
even to defy them. There is reason to believe,
however. that this IL not exactly the view
taken by the great German chiefs themselves.
They know perfectly we'll that, powerful as
Germany is, she was indebted, both in 1866
and 1870, in some degree to fortune for her
marvellous success. In 1866, the best Ger
man regiments in the Austrian Army never
~>IRet she Prussiahs at all, but were occupied
with the'ItalianS at Custozza. In 1870, the
Army OF the Second Empire was in a situation
unparalleled since the days of Louis AV"-
under.manned, .badly differed, led by Generals
who hated one another, and commanded, In the
last resort, by a man who had no orders to
give, and was unable to secure attention to
his advice. Nevertheless, that army fought
one splendid battle, and but for Marshal Ba-
ZainehS self-seeking policy might, even at the
eleventh hour, have altered the whole current
of affairs. Such circumstances are not like
ly to repeat themselves, and as Prince Bis
marck and Count Won Moltke look around, they
may see facts which, interpreted as they would
n4a.pro fhoVC, NAV noncd than aprIOUN
disquietude. 10 the westward lies . military
Republic full of wealth and resources, with an
army on paper as numerous as the German
and in reality as numerous as any army Ger
many could move, unless her very existence
were 10 danger, animated by an intense wish
TO retrieve her prestige. and a fixed determine
ton at some future period to recover Lorraine.
To the southwark is an Empire badly con-
structed, and essentially weak, but ruled by 8
most experienced Prince, who during war would
be absolute, who, for one great battle at least,
would dispose of 1000 900 men, nearly bait OF
them Germans, and who cannot be believed
willing to put up with his expulsion from an
Empire which in 1868 he acknowledged by his
visit to Frankfort that be hoped to rule. 10
the northward is q peninsula which might
under certain circumstances open the gate OF
Germany to a foe, and to the eastward a gl-
Rdu(IC GIuplI0t IulCu . q mon WhO"N
may not be friendly, who must regard his
Empire rather than his own feelings, and who
could order a quarter Of a %ihillion of stubborn
soldiers to move upon Berlin, a capital which
on that side is not a hundred and fifty miles
from a nearly defenoeless frontier. Germany
is hemmed in by f~rst-class armies, and Win
all her gigantic strength might be overmatched
by @ coalition of these Powers, or even OF two
of them; and it is 70 wonder that her rulers
and her people, as yet scarcely aware OF the
greatness of their new position, scarcely ex'
smpt from the influences Of their own past
history, should r~estlessly watch the talntesE
indications of the coming of such a comblna-
Q ton, OF should even brood over plans Wnlon
le would, if successful, render it impossible;
81 That the best of these plans would De 10
remain quiet, to grow rich, and to acquire tne
confidence of Europe, is the conviction OF most
,Englishlnen, but it is not necessarily, the
conviction of men who at heart douot
whether European opinion ever seriously al
9 fects the policy of Military States; The
rulers of Germany may think that France
can never be conciliated, that Austria may
10 end it necessary to choose between q great
y victory or o near decease that Russia, be her
& opinion what it might, would obey her Cars
command; and that the only security for
Germany is to grow till she is in her