Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-29
WAR NOTES.
PREPARING FOB A GREAT sfxueaLS
IN EUROPE.
Austria, Germany. and Russia On ne
Alert-secrst Preparations
at Vienna.

! are forbidden 10 say word on tbe suulect,
and the TagbtaH was seized on account OF
too-detsiled description OF the Mann
licher repeating rifle. The Government
| was given o credit Of a million and quar-
ter dollars 10 begin the purchase of repeat
ing rifles, but II Will take ten times THAT 70
complete ber armament. What system has
! been chosen remains secret, but u u oe-
lieyed 10 be a modification OF the Mann
hcber. The schulhoI rifle Is well spoken
of By military men, aud the inventor mas
now gone 20 London, where be Is negolis'
! ting q large order. Russia, II IL reported,
has refused TO change her system, snd
| some persons argue from this thai she
thinks war probable before the arms couh
| be got ready. However, Russia has made
large purchases Of Nordenieldt guns.
While nearly every one believes war
| probable In the spring, and mlny believe "
| inevitable, the military. a. distinguished
| from the political element, see no con-
vincing reason for war, because they are OF
| The oid school that think war useless unie.s
! II r. suit. in the annexation OF province o.
some similar msterial advantage.
ATTACHING ruE GOVERNMENT.
The Minister Of War aud his friends have
been greatly annoyed by the continued
| tion which have lately appeared in Ger
| many. ODr OF these. entitled Military
strength Of Austria Hungary in the
| Twelfth Hour" written by retired HUI
| gorian officer. excited such feelings that lt
| was at once prohibited in Austria, though
| owing to different municipal laws It's sale
was permitted in Hungary.
This pamphlet sharply criiicises the
| whole administration Of the army, but es-
pecaly the defects IN the system OF mobi-
! lization and the bad effect upon officers in
sending them 10 province. where they do
not speak the language and are cut oil from
society. for the ROumlnianN aud serbs are
sent 10 Austria and the Bohemgns 10 Hun
gary: the spread Of socialism among off-
cers. and the defective nouriShment and
| clothing OF soldiers, fOr the Austrian soldier
| receives n rations but one meal d1y. a.
noon. ard an extra loaf OF bread every two
| days. which latter l. deducted from his pay
oi TWO cents a dly. on. Of which he also
has 10 provide himself with backing aud
cleaning equipments.
While these infercnces and conclusions
in The pamphlet are denied by the higher
military officials. the statements are general-
Is approved by the lower oficers who have
had a chance Of seeing il. German officers
last summer made severe comments on the
state II the Austrian army, and II i signin-
cant thlt nothing va, said on the subject
M the recent DEBATE in the German Parlia.
mcnt. hut Prince Reuss, the German AM
ha~,ador, Who certainly has an interest Ia
knowing. rrOfrs,c, himscn well sitI.led.
Hungarian Deputies told me that the 0pp,.
,lion. after makipg careful inquiries, con-
-idCItd tie army 10 be in "A much better
state than was generally believed and PR
fcctly ready FOR q campaign.
The Minister - war. 'ouat Blylaudt-
Eh,idi. j. much liked by political men on
account Of hi great I'm rwledge OF d'tailS
aud READINGS, m explaining th m. and his
economy, for De- never exceeds the appro-
praiion.
MILITARY DIFFICULTIES.
The difficulties Of mobilization come
partly from the disloeation OF regiments
and The necessity OF bringing their reserves
IRON very distant parts Of the country
for the system of territorial corps ddrfate
las not YET been entirely introduced-and
partly from the defects in the railway sys-
ten.
The long uilway which runs through
/ Galic,a. along ih, whole RuSssan frontier,
7 ua, but two junction, with tie Hungarian
railway sy.fom, and but one With the Aus.
TRAN lines. At Odcrbcrg the line from
hat ilaCr tO tTJr0N pi>sc, dang 'rOusly
ntar the Russian frontier. The functions
rom lItu,sln, on PTe>hurg, 20 >illcln, on
Elcric,--a line which viii be- OF great aa-
yan'11c-i> not yet uni.hrd, and u took the
Minister OF War seven wears 10 get Il
through the Hungarian Plrllament, BE-
aUse il WAS a strategic and not commer-
,ial line.
Another minor defect. arising from par
liculaIism. !, that Polish i spoken on the
Galcun Hallway aud hungarian on uic
HUNGARIAN lines. This Galician railway
must play an important part IN future
war.
~ CASE OF WAR.
II Is the general belief here that Russia
IN ca.c OF war will not waste her forces by
occupying Bulgaria. 20 far as Austria J.
concerned il must be foL gbt ont on the
Galician frontier. Pl1ns for an offensive
campaign contemplate the march 81 one
army from 'racOW down the Nis'ula to-
ward Warsaw. when every soldier would
carry an extra ri1c 10 bc given 10 the
Polish pea,anl,, and another from the
LighborhoOd of Lemherg toward kiry.
IN Dfori would be- also made To
.0.atc aud pcrhip> DESTROY odessa.
Even il Roumanit should remain
neutral The occupation of Ja.>y !, con-
.idcr,d necessary, hut IL l. boped that
Houmanii would bc compelled - side with
Austria. II may be- added thlt thc pupils
in the military schools have lately been re-
qtlrcd to study two book. entitled From
the i~luia 10 the Duicper," by SIrm,t,cu>,
which B, lu'i u valuable detailed map, and
flc military Geography n Rus,io,' by
Colonel titdl"r, Ut the War ONCE, which
l- Not allow cd to bee sold.
A>Fw ENgDoV o. POLAND.
\ r,c,nl hint in the Nor3d,wsctc .ilgr.
maine /~tuq that Polish influences and
mcu were 20 work 10 excite German ,ym-
la'hy Tor Bulgaria and against Russia i,
otN founded. lherr j. q decided feeling
that it nay bc u.c,~-ary ~ rec.tIbii,h the
AingGom ~ polud a, barrier against
Russia. In Hungary thi, feeling T. -
,troug tual ih ci>c Il war the ilungariauS
would INSIST on the Government taking
measures 60 excite a Polish ln.urreciion.
even no tie fi,k ~ being compelled 20 cede
GslIcia 10 the new Polish Kingdom.
bad to-Gay a ony c0nNrr. ition 90 this
subject with a cousin Of Prince 'LiriOry-
,Lki. The nominal head ol Polish en- grafton,
Who confirmed all that had heard else
where. lIe SAYS that three year, ago there
was 4 strong move for the establishments of
IN Independent Poland 10 close allilnce
S .Ih Russia. and under q Russian pro.
tcc,)rale. NJ that time the Polish
leaders uad .ciected a, their eventual
king Prince Waldcmir. oi Denmark.
and nrgOti1t'Ou- on tn subject were
begun al Copenhagen 20 obtain the consent
II the King. hi, father, who refused to be a
party 20 the project. At present plan, are
changed a1d the future Poland must be IN
alliance NTH Austria and Germany, and "a
endeaSoT would De- made to put an Aus
irian archcUke on the throne. Ny iuforcl-
ant va, told by Count Albedynsky, former
G0yeru0r.Gcneral of Warsaw, thar Russia
has d, cided In the event Of 4 war with
Germany 10 abandon Poland west Of the
Ni>tuia.
GERMANY PREPARING.
have also seen to-day a gentleman well
known In diplomatic and military circles.
sho has ju,t returned from the Ei,t. who
had much 10 say on The same topic, and even
went 20 far a. 20 assert that the German
plans lOr q Polish cJmp1ign are all ready,
even tO ibe selection OF the econmanding OIL.
cers. The German candidate for the Polish
throne Us Prince Anton Radziwyll.