The New York herald., 1877-12-26


the King began to anxious look. On his part
de sommsrield must have felt dissatisfied with tho
result OF his conversations with His Majesty for soon
after Prince Fritz arrived In person. The heir OF the
German crown Is said have declared 10 the King,
that n neutrality had rghts" that England had al
ways supported II bad also 'duties" OF which, Tor It's
security, Germany claimed the execution. Tee
Prince alleged that Tor the purpose OF the recanche,
OF which France always speaking, II might hap
pen that the French would rapidly invade Belgium
and seek to penetrate into Germany by Cologne. II
therefore became necessary, instead OF seeking to
diminish. 10 increase the Begians' means Of dofence
A DIFFICULT SITUATION.
The Ministry held a council the subject and he
whose opinion was most sought naturally tho
comts de Aspremon,- Ly nden, Minister OF Foreign
Affairs. Bound by the programme OF ST. Nicholas he
wanted resign but the arslocracy, OF whom he Is
the representative in the Council OF Ministers,
would not hear OF It, because 1t would have
been impossible to find any ono who would
accept his portfolio under such difficult and
critical circumstances Besides, his resignation
would have served no object, for IL would not have
diminished by a thread tho strength OF the Gordan
knot II facilitate matters 1t became necessary for
any minster to resign IL was tho turn OF the Minis
ter Of War, but NJ Malou opposed TO this because
no knew that he could got no other military man TO
replace him. General T5beaut having ruined bis repu'
tation with army 10 such point that his rccep.
lons completely deserted, and that he dare not
show himself In camp. The King therefore, found
himself reduced TO tho dilemma OF either being Obliged
10 yield 10 the viii OF people, desiring through his
ministry effect reduction In the military expenses
OF the country or 10 that OF Germany demanding an
increase OF them, perplexing alternative which
politician defined in these :-s'Lcopold H., who
holds 6 his throne the future darkening before
him; his best hope OF misfortune, is that Bel
cum may stop short at the fate Of Saxony, and may
not have to undergo the disasters Of Hanover"
ADVISING Win THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES.
In this embarrassing position Leopold H. seeks to
tcmporize. Hc promised Prince Fritz to select sew
eral military to advise with him, and he accor-
dngly summoned his counsel three officers who are
designated as .'ofacisux" by tho public They are
Lieutenant General Brinlmont. Inspector General Of
Fortncations General Major Baron Won der Smissen,
formerly Commander Of the Belgian Legion in Moxco,
aud Colonel Of Artillery Nicasc, Chef du Maericl at
THO Ministry OF War; These throo officers have been
'doubled' by three sousoGciers, who are always to
be seen at the Queens croquot parties They Baron
Ferdinand Jolly, Colonel aEtat Major, and bead Of
the War school, Baron d'Avsrchic do Necrysscnc and
Baron Won Rode, Major OF Grenadiers. All SIX OIL
GERS have been still attached to the person OF
the King.
AoLTKE INSTRUCT BELGIAN oyFicERsP
General Briamont was charged to inquire what i'm
provement could DO effected In the forifcations,
Colonel Nicase was instructed to LOOK into tho
pattyie and General Van dor Smissen directed TO
prepare reports the numerical and moral condition
OF the troops Orders probably givcn underhand
10 these officers to proceed slowly, but 81. do Somncr.
field was on tho watch, and Prince FRITZ comes to
his aid The moment he Is summoned. He never re-
mains more than three four months without pay
ing visit to his royal cousin. Leopold The lnfu-
Of Major Sommerfeld Is well recognized In the
army that when the officers desire modification
the they carry their requests to the German
atacne, who II he thinks the matter advisable, writes
TO Berlin. In few days afterward the modification
reform Is placed tho order book OF the regiment
by tho Kings express Instructions.
ANOTHER sAPPRovALn FROM BERLIN.
Here Is another example. Two commissions COM
posed each OF four officers wero instructed, acting
Independently. TO ind the strategic points advisable
to be defended In order arrest AN enemy at dis
sanco from Antwerp, in front of the Nethe and
tho Ruppell They have fixed upon the town OF
Lierro and the village OF Waclhen, which are stu
ated ut distance Of only twenty-four Kilometres
tabout sixteen miles) from Brussels, with which
tney are connected by heights that are easily
This plan Is drawn up with the intcn-
tion Of arres,inga Fronch cavalry raid like that OF
General Gourko. IT. during the ten days the mobliza-
tion may last the French commander should take IL
into his head make dash into Belgium with his
cavalry, which Is always on war footing. This
plan sent to Berlin, whence IL returned
and the two forts about to be con-
number OF the houses having already been
to make way Tor them. Tho Pres.
dent OF the Council. of wnom Mgr. Deschamps de-
b.
that he had obtsincd the necessary funds for these
new forts from the sale of ground belonging to the
old dismaniled iortilcations He had not therefore,
departed from the programme OF st. Nicholas.
THE COMPLICATION INCREASES.
But the President Of the Council Is the end OF hs
list Of expcdicns for Major do Sommerfcld than
ever insists tho establishment compulsory SER
vice' serrice 0bgatore) in Belgium. This Mgr Des-
champs will not hear OF, because, under this system
OF forced service, the ncw soldiers VINO do not know
how TO read would be taught in the regiments. "And
l do not wautn tho PFeiate said, "our peasants TO
read La Chro,rgpe and La Gazette journals which are
sold at two centimes which are very anicericai.
The crisis arriving At It's climax Q. first thought
that the elections which then at hand tho
liberal party TO whom large means Of action would be
fur nshcd, would regain the majority, but they would
serve no purpose for NJ Frere Orpan, the head Of
liberal party, HNe Mgf Descnalns, nau promised inc
electors a reduction OF tho military charges.
A ENGLAND
IN the meantime Major do Som mmerfeld exacts that
northern cuadcI OF the forincations OF Anvors shall
bc Immediately razed to the ground, for tho very
good reason that It does not sufficiently defend tho
pass and that battery Of six pieces pivot would
better work. This battery might stop English and
other vessels, and lulnl tho object contemplated by
the erection OF tho citadel, which occupies surface
Of l3i hectares, where "a, coo English might easily
land. Tho English must rcnounce these facilities
They gradually beginning to perceive that Antwerp
will escape them to rccompcnse themselves for its
loss thcy arc using the Begians for other objects
Forcseeing that, later Tor different causes
they must lose India they arc seeking TO prepare in
Africa another India still vast. With this viow
they maae the wars in Abyssinia, in Ashantoc, in
Caroland annexed the lfansvaal at the Cape aud en-
couragcd explorations toward the centro Of Africa
pacific in their INCEPTION but in reality the
OF colonial and domincering sway