Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-30
PREPARING FOR WAR.

Austria, Germany and Russia on the
Alert.
VIENNA, December 29.-Austria is max
ing great military preparations as rapidly
and secretly as possible. The Vienna news
papers are forbidden to say word on the
subject, and the Tdgbldtt was seized on
account of too detailed description of the
Mannlicher repeating rifle. The Govern
ment was given credit of million and
quarter dollars to begin the purchase of re-
peating rifles, but it will take ten tim es
that to complete her armament. What
system has been chosen remains secret,
but it is believed to be a modification of
the Mannlicher. The Schulhoff rifle is we'll
spoken of by military men, and the inven-
negotiating large order. Russia, il isre-
ported, has refused TO change her system,
and some persons argue from this that she
thinks war probable before the arms could
be got ready. However, Russia has made
large purchases of Nordenfeldt guns.
While nearly every one believes war
probable in the spring, and many believe
1t inevitable, the military, as distinguished
from the political element, see no cOnvinc-
ing reason for war, because they are of the
old school that think war useless unless it
results in the annexation of province or
some similar material advantage.
The Minister of War and his friends have
been greatly annoyed by the continued
criticisms and attacks on his administra-
tion which have lately appeared in Ger
many One of these, entitled Military
Strength of Austria-Hungary in the
Twelfth Hour" written by retired Hun
garian officer, excited such feelings that it
was at once prohibited in Austria, though
owing to different municipal laws its sale
was permitted in Hungary.
The pamphlet sharply crticises the
whole administration of the army, but cs-
pccially the defects in the system of mob
ilization and the bad effect upon officers in
sending them to provinces where they do
not speak the language and are cut off
from society, for the Roumanians and
Serbs are sent to Austria and the Bohe-
mians to Hungary; the spread of socialism
among officers, and the defective nourish-
ment and clothing of soldiers, for the
Austrian soldier receives as ratiOns but
one meal a day, at noon, and an extra
loaf of bread every two days, which latter
is deducted from his pay two cents a
day. out of which he also has to provide
himself with backing and cleaning equip
ments.
While these inferences and conclusions
in the pamphlet are denied by the higher
military officials, the statements are gen.
orally approved by the lower officers who
have chance of seeing it. German Off
Ger made last summer severe comments
Oh the state of the Austrian army, and IL
is significant that nothing was said on the
subject in the recent debate in the German
Parliament, but Prince Reuss, the German
Ambassador, who certainly has an interest
in knowing, processes himself well salts
fed. Hungarian Deputies told me that
the opposition after making careful in
quiries considered the army TO be in a
much better state than was generally be
lieved and perfectly ready for campaign.
The Minister of War, Count Blylandt-
Rheidt, is much liked by political men on
account of his great knowledge Of details
and readiness in explaining them, and his
economy, for he never exceeds the apprO-
priation.
The difficulties of meditation come part
ly from the dislOcatiOn of regiments and
the necessity of bringing their reserves
from very distant parts of the country-fOr
the system Of territorial corps ddrmee has
tnt nd
partly from the defects in the railway sys-
tenn.
The long railway which runs through
Galicia along the whole Russian frontier,
has but two functions with the Hungarian
railway system and but one with the Aus
trian lines. At Oderberg the line from
that place to Cracow passes dangerously
near the Russian frontier. The functions
from Trencsin on Presburg, to Sillien on
Eperies-a line which will be Of great ad-
vantage-is not yet finished, and it took
the Minister of War seven years to get it
through the Hungarian Parliament, be-
cause il was a strategic and not CONNER
clal line.
Another minor defect, arising from par
ticularism, Is that Polish Is spoken on the
Galician railway and Hungarian on the
Hungarian lines. This Galician railway
must play an important part in future
war.
1t is the general belief here that Russia
in case Of war will not waste her forces by
occupying Bulgaria. so far as Austria is
concerned it must be fought ont on the
Galician frontier Plans for an offensive
campaign contemplate the march Of one
army from CracOw down the Vistula to-
ward Warsaw, when every soldier would
carry an extra rife TO be given tothe Polish
peasants, and another from the neighbor-
| hood Of Lemberg toward Kiey. An effort
would be also made to isolate and perhaps
destroy Odessa. Even ifROumania should
remain neutral the occupation Of Jassy II
considered necessary, but 1t is hoped that
| Roumania would be compelled TO side with
Austria. II may he added that the pupils
in the military schools have lately been
required to study two books, entitled
'From the Vistula 10 the Dnieper," by
Sarmaticus. which is full of yalu4ble de-
tailed maps. and the Military Geography
of Russia.r by Colonel Fielder. Of the Wal
Office, which is not allowed to be sold
A recent hint in the Norddeutsehe Alge.
meme ZeifHHg that Polish influences and
men were at work TO excite German sym
pathy for Bulgaria and against Russia j:
well founded. There Is q decided feeling
that it may be necessary TO re-establish ths
kingdom Of Poland as q barrier against
Russia. In Hungary this feeling is -
strong that in case Of war the Hungarian,
would insist on the Government takins
measures to excite a Polish instruction
even at the risk Of being compelled TO eed.
Galicia TO the new Polish kingdom
had to-day long conversation on thil
subject with a cousin Of Prince CzartOr
yszki, the nominal bead Of the Polish emf
grafton, who confirmed all that ! had hear
ELSEWHERE He said that three years ag
there was strong move for the establish