Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-21
WHAT VoN MoLrKE THINKS.

lecturer, making very interesting chapter OF
WHAT VoN MoLrKE THINKS.
| Prospect Of Disarmament Very Re,
mote. The Head Of the Germ an
Military System-His Views ON the
chances Of the Future i'm Europe.
tLondon Telegraph, Jan. 31.l
In plainly furnished room, the only orna-
| ments OF which are few cleverly executed
| Water-color sketches, and full length portrait
OF the Emperor William, Field Marshal Count
German soldiers and the first strategist In the
world sits daily at his writing table from early
morn until noon, necessarily occupied with the
regulation and improvement OF that magntf-
| cent military machine which he has handled
| with such terrible effect in two gigantic wars.
| From the window facing his accustomed seat at
! the southwestern corner OF the GeneralStaO5ye-
bands he can look out upon the vast Konlgs-
| platZ and contemplate with patriotic sausfac-
ton tempered by artistic modification, the
tall, uncomey memorial raised to commemor-
ate Victorious deeds of his devising that bears
upon its summit buxOm bat like eff1gy Of
| Germany's latest triumphs over her hereditary
are carried to Berlin nom the remotest points
| of the Fatherland's frontiers, charged with
| matter OF import and interest concerning the
German Army, Its positions, movements, and
condition converge and empty themselves of
| their valu able contents In that modest chamber,
| enabling the vigorous octogenarian to feed his
brain with the very Of the high
voted by the officers of the general staff to the
collection of material for his consideration. 1t
| is but seldom that any OF the instructive di-
| geStS or luminous memoranda penned by the
Great Silent One' in his quiet study reach the
| cognizance Of the outer world. AS writer,
| Connt Won Moltke Is only known to the general
| public. even in his own adopted country, by his
| delightful books Of travel and of youthful cam
| paigning in the East His reports to the Prus-
sian King and German Emperor, spoken Of as
af
| sons who have been fortunate enough to pc
ruse them, are confidently State papers, which
| may be read with deep interest by future genera
! tions, but, for some years to come, at least are
| doomed to honorable seclusion in the secret de-
| partment of the Imperial Privy Archives IN
| like the late Duke of Wellington, with whose
common he does not keep up large private
| correspondence with all manner Of men, though
| his letters from Russia to members of his family
! have furnished the basis for one Of the most
| readable books OF modern times. His episto-
| larry utterances obtain publicity even more
| rarely than his spoken remarks which, perhaps
| session, command the respectful attention Of
| his Neutrality-suspicious. and frequently insure
their adoption OF the particular measure he
| may think fit to advocate. But his 1nfrequent
| letters and speeches are so replete with mature
| thought and ripe wisdom, expressed with Wig
| Orous tersenesS, and characterized by certain
| sad solemnity which renders them exception
| ally impressive even to the casual reader, that
| they are fully entitled in foreign countries to
the ser Gus consideration they invariably obtain
| in Germany. For Hellmuth Won Molthe is not
| only great soldier, but great statesman. He
is, moreover, philosopher OF the stoical school,
and an accomplished student of human nature,
| who has for many years past kept critical
watch upon the signs Of the times 7e he has lived
fuence ia the politico military circle which i'm
mediately environs the German Emperor, no.
thing that is escapes his observation, and moth
ing that is to be is unknown to him. His au-
thOrity In the Imperial councils has before now
outweighed even that of Prince Bismarck him.
self; and in his own special department of the
State Administration he yields absolute and
uncontrolled power.
Despite the obvious 1nopportuneness Of such
moment as the present for pleading the cause
Of general and simultaneous disarmament,
person, whoi Is presumably of some note, but
| whose name has not as yet transpired, has adj
dressed letter to Count Won Moltke, entreat-
Emperor toward the proximate effectuatlon Of
a considerable reduction in the Imperial Army.
The aspirations set forth in this letter are,
| fortunately for the leading European nations,
| altogether Utopian under existing circum-
| stances, and their writer can ha dly have hoped
| for their realization when he set them down
the General Stair. Probably he wished to elicit
| from the great military oracle some grave and
| momentous deliverance touching the actual
| state OF affairs upon the Continent, and some
| sagacious forecast with respect to the future
| awaiting Germany and her neighbOrs, friendly
or hostile. If this were his object, he has been
partly successful in achieving It; for Count Won
| Moltke's reply to his application, an extract
| from which was telegraphed from Berlin all
| over Europe on Wednesday evening, discloses
| the Field Marshars views of the situation, as
| from actualities OF evil omen, in simple but
highly impressive language. 'Father' Moltke.
S he is afrectionately designated throughout
| he Prlssian Army, IS no pessimtst; but he, as
well as other leading spirits of the age, is re-
| retfully unable to take hopeful view of the
| future, as far as the abolition, or even reduc-
| ton, Of gigantic ornaments in Europe is
concerned. .sWho.' he asks. with melancholy
| earnestness, "does not share the heartfelt de-
| sire to see those heavy military burdens re-
leved which Germany is compelled to bear in
| consequence of her position in the midst of
| powerful neighbors. Neither Princes nor Gov
| ernments are deaf to that desire; but happier
| condition of affairs cannot be attained until ma
| tons shall have arrived at the conviction that
| every war, even though victorious, is national
| misfortune. Even the power Of the Emperor Is
Inadequate to bring about this conviction,
| the religious and moral education of the peo-
ple-the fruit Of centuries of historical develop
| ment which neither Of us will live to see!'
These solemn and mournful words convey to
| US but slender promise Of an amaliOratiOn in
| the calamitous conditions which at present OBJ
| tain In the great military States OF Continental
Europe, to the infinite prejudice of class inter.
ests and the almost fntolerable oppression OF
| civilized humanity. The same tone OF dignifed
| sorrowfulness runs through them that charac-
terized their venerable authors speech in the
1
| years ago, he rose in his place near the Minis
ter1al table to reply to the passionate oratory of
| the Opposition on behalf OF Government
| measure similar In character to that abjut to
| be brought forward by the Chancellor in person
| fortnight hence. With evident reluctance,
| he addressed himself to the ungrateful task OF
dispelling all the roseate illusions at that time
| entertained by many German Liberals and
ProgressiStS with respect to prospects Of long
| lasting peace, which should enable Germany
| to reduce her standing army, cut down her
| military estimates to minimum, and devote
| her extraordinary administrative abilities to
the development of her peoples well-being.
| Then. as now Count Won MOltkeS deliberate
| utterances sounded dismally in the ears OF his
| countrymen, and dashed the spirits OF political
| OptimiStS In every great Continental capital.
| The well-known rettcence, soundneSS of judy
| ment, and prudence of the German NeStOr lent
| overwhelming weight to the warning he pro-
| nounced on the occasion referred to, and Sc
| cured to the Government many influential
| votes, which, but for his remarkable speech
| would aSsuredly have been registered against
! the 1874, army bill. Second to no man in that
assembly, as he expressly stated, in his longing
| for durable peace and his appreciation OF its
| manifold blessings, he prophesied succession
| OF SaDguinary and ruinOuS wars, In which Ger
| many could not fail to be involved by reason of
| her unfortunate geographical position, and
| Strenuously exhorted his cOmpatrlOtS to make
| preparations, regardless of all material sacrl-
| tces for the terrible trials in store for their
| native land. His appeal to the patriotism of
| the German Parliament was by no means Jim
| DaSSiOned dramatic. but ifs effect unOn the