The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-05-04
FRANCE AND GERMANY.
The Coming Death Grapple Between the
Teuton and the GauI-France's Gigantic
Preparations for the Conflict.

The Coming Death Grappie Between the
Teuton and the GauI-France's Gigantic
Preparations for the Conflict.
[From the Chicago Tribune.l
Europe is rapidly assuming the con-
dition OF vast military camp, or rather
is becoming series of national camps.
Germany has devoted all her energies,
since the close of the war with France,
to perfect her military organization. A
large part of the French indemnity was
expended in military roads, in obtaining
heavy ordnance, in strengthening fortifi-
cations, in the purchase of arms, and In
building and equipping navy. The
empire has been made a vast military
school, so that when there is a need for
troops every man will be a trained and
armed soldier In France the prepare
ton for war has been even more extern
sive. The inefficiency and insufiiciency
of the military establishment under the
empire is one of the painful remembran-
ces of France. Hardly had the Germans
left the country before the military .edu-
cation of the nation was begun. France
is no longer to have regular army and
a militia; the nation is to be made an
army; the old men and the women are
to do the work of the field and shop,
while the young and able-bodied men
are being instructed and educated as
soldiers. When France goes to war
again, it will be with the whole nation
in arms, and the whole nation fighting
as trained soldiers only can fight. The
next French army will be a national one,
prepared to fight to the last man, and
each man an educated soldier. The
French have in the same manner been
expanding heavily for Notifications.
Between Paris and the northern frontier
there are various lines of Notifications,
and the defense of the country against
invasion is immensely strengthened. For
prudential reasons the fortification of
the frontier has been left to later date.
But the work of preparation goes on in
cessantly. BY night and day the work
is going on all over France The pur
chase and manufacture of arms has been
enormous, and France will, when the
time comes, be prepared to place rife
of the best finish in the hands of every
man in France. The expenditure by
France has been made from taxation OF
the most exacting character. The ma
tional tax is now $547, 900, 900 year;
this tax is needed to pay the interest on
the public debt, and to support and i'm
prove the military defenses. The annual
outlay for the army and Notifications is
stated to be $15O,000, 900, and for the
navy $50, 100000.
1t is very clear that in Germany war
-, - l. al I,,k =
considered certain. There can be no
question that the national pride of
France is aroused, and that on the ques-
ton of war with Germany there will be
no division of sentiment. The people
are submitting to the utmost privations
and sacrifices. The taxes are possibly
equal in the case of large part of the
people to an average of one meal day
for each family, and this is endured that
France may be able to avenge the injury
and loss of the past. When that war
comes, it will be one of the most deter
mined character. Not only the recovery
of Alsace and Lorraine, but the further
rectifcation of the national boundaries,
will be the end sought by France. When
ever Germany shall be divided, that will
bean opportunity for France, but, whether
Germany be divided or not, the war will
come by the act of France, when in the
Judgment of her rulers the country shall
be fully prepared for such an event.
Such war between these two nations,
after this long and formidable prepara-
ton, will be such as the world has not
seen in modern times. On its issue will
rest the very existence of France. De-
feat will leave her so overwhelmed with
debt as to render the payment of that
debt impossible. She will sink to the
lowest rank among nations. But, if sue
cessful, where will her success lead In
addition to the recovery of Alsace and
Lorraine, she may desire to extend her
borders. Her success, too, viii destroy
the prestige of the German empire The
end of such war will lead, probably, to a
new map of Europe, in which Belgium,
Holland, and Denmark may disappear as
Independent nations.