The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-04-06
Fort Benton Montana, Wednesday, April s, 1881.

are alarmed at the possibilities France has
now an army considerably stronger than
Germany, and Italy has power sufficient to
almost counterpoise Austria, leaving Russia
free TO act, with only the power of the Scan
dinavian States to oppose her, which, even if
England was added, would not be sufficient
to cope with her armies, which would be
thrown in the rear Of both Germany and Aus
tria.
Significant Of the apprehensions entertain
ed at Berlin was the appearance, the other
day, of pamphlet discussing the relative
military strength of Germany, written by o
Prussian officer Of high reputation, whose
statements are cited with earnest approval by
the official press. The author pointed out
that Germany had not man to spare during
the last war with France, and that it was on
the eve of events that would require far
greater efforts than those of 187O-71. He
showed that the active army Of France on a
peace footing was now much stronger tlan
the German in all respects except in cavalry;
while he asserted that the reserve force,
known under the French system as the terri
torial army, was not only as numerous, bu
had now become as efficient as the German
Laaadeoehr. He averred that to equip the
German empire merely for a single handed
contest with France, it would be necessary
to expand the civil army to equal proportions
to reorganize the La11tz2oezr so that it might
take the field forthwith on the outbreak of
war, and to develop the Laaadsturna-which,
according to this writer, exists only On paper
that it shall stand even in time of peace on
the same footing as that heretofore occupied
by the L0pdaoehr.
Such were the important changes which
the pamphlet has raised, and the official
journals which reviewed it pronounced abso-
lutely necessary if Germany wished to enter
upon her next grapple with France under
reasonable prospects Of success. They went
on to say, moreover, that in the coming con-
f1ict Germany would have to face two enc
mics; that her force would have to be divid-
ed, in order to protect her eastern as well as
western frontier; while she would be FORUM
ate, it was added, if she were not assailed, at
the same crisis, on the side of Italy and of
Schleswig. AS for the cooperation Of Aus
tria, while it was declared clearly indispensa-
bic, grave apprehensions were expressed lest
it should prove inadequate, the military
strength of the Hapsburg monarch by no
means counterbalancing the Russian armies.
On the contrary, the Prussian writer was of
the opinion that, Notwithstanding all the ad-
vantages of their situation, and though they
should strain their joint resources to the ut
termost, the Austro-German allies, pitted
against France and Russia, would find them
selves involved, not in a war for conquest,
but struggle for existence.
A war with Germany would be extremely
popular with the Russians and the old par
ty in Russia which is believed the new En-
peror faVors, and there is no question what
ever of the feeling of France, and the nation
al feeling in Italy is equally strong against
Austria, and it is reasonable to conclude that
both will strike at the first opportunity, and
that opportunity will be presented whenever
Russia sees fit to give the word
Taken all in all, the movement in Greece
in assuming an active interest against Tur
key is significant, and so also is that Of Eng
land in withdrawing from the Transvaal and
Afghanistan, showing hat she is concentra-
ting for more important and vital move
ment of some kind, though what its nature
is not yet perceptible on the face of events.