New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-31
GERMANY AND AUSTRIA.

Military pre- ,rations and pacific diplomacy
have boon characteristic features of German policy
during the year. The improved Mauser rifle. hold
ing ton cartridges In tho stock. has been rapidly
introduced. Ons-haf of the army Is already pro-
vided with the new weapon. The ke'ohstas on
reassenblng November 9. received prcposa lor
raising the active army from AT Ooo % 400, ooo
men for seven years beginning with 1913" th'S
large increase Is to include as many as twentv-iour
now batteries of artillery. The pretext LOT adoi-
tional armament Is tho increase OF the French
army The Committee Military AFFAIRS mas
voted against this large addition to the standing
army although Count Won Moltke has argued for
Il ON the ground Of urgent necessity. The Reich
alag will probably sanction the proposals
The Foreign aice while pleading lack OF inter-
est in questions arising Southeastern Europe mas
successfully interviewed between Russia ana
Austria OIL behalf of peace. Prince bismarck
while acauiescing in the dethronement Of Prince
Alexander, and acknowledging the Cars right 10
nominate a successor has supported Austrias hrm
resistance to Russian encroachment upon the iloer-
ties of the Balkan nationalities. The angry. re-
ser,ful. and hot-headod Car has been spared
humiliating sacrifices of pride and honor. yet mas
bee Jefectualy kept under the restraints OF Euro
mean opipion The conversion of Bulgaria into
Russian satrapy has Leen prevented The transfer
of Count Hatzfeldt to the German Embassy IN
England has enabled Prince bismarck to place
his son. Count Herbert Bismarck. at the head OF
the Foreign Once This is a satisfactory arrange
mept in one respect since the present Foreign Sec
rotary will not stand in dread of the Chanceilors
jealousy.
German support las given Austria commanding
position in the diplomacy of che Eastern question
Her influence in Servia has remained unim-
saired Bosnia and the Herzegovina have beer
-;eoIv gnverned and more closely ucOrpOrated
with the protecting State; and Bulgaria and
Rumania have been dealt with alphabetically
and encouraged to plan Balkan confederation.
Herr Tsza's speech in the Hungarian Parliament
during she autumn marked the turning point OF
the diplomacy of the ysar. Disclaiming any COW
etons designs upon Balkan territory, be remon-
strated firmly against the exercise of a prepondeI
atng influence there by any other Power and
advocated the federation of autonomous States
This speech followed by Count Kalnokv's more
diplomatic explanations of foreign policy dspeled
the suspicion that there n secret understanding
betUeep the two courts by which Russia was to
take Constantinople and Austria Saonica At the
same time the delegations have been requ lred to
vote largely increased military budgets and to
sanction the trengthenng of the artillery al the
introduction of improved epeating rifles on large
scale
Prince Bismarck's pacific diplomacy has ex-
tended TO ecclesiastical affairs In the Prusslan
House of Lorls he announced in April an unequlv-
ocal abandonment of the May laws An ecclesias-
t,cal bill had been introduced in February and
amended by Roman Catholic bishops and
after diplomatic negotiations between Berlin and
the Vatican q series of clauses in the Nav laws
were resclnded by the Landag. The Chancellor
speech announcing that he had come to terms with
the Pope was an a't p 10 I0s' n nn
Room and DIR. Falk. The abandonment OF the Cui-
turkampf marks he most decisive defeat the Prime
Chancellor has met with during his VICTORIOUS ca
reer In domestic legislation he has been slgnaly
unfortunate during the year, Onlv three members
ot the Reich tag voted for his project of brandy
monopoly: and a subsequent measure combining
new excise law and higher taxes on spirits was
also laid aside through the opposition OF ConseTva
tives Bills passed for the establishment of
three great canas CONNECTING the spree ana me
Oder the Enms and the Rhine and the Baltic with
the North Sea- he Government measures FOR ex-
proved by the frusslan Chamber january 30 by
a vote of 264 to 1853. Prince Bismarck justified
the rooting-Out of 80. 600 landhoders and work
men on the p that the Poles did not belong on
German SOIL and we source OF weakness and
sediton. BY the purchase of their farms the Gov
eminent is enabled TO plant q German populaflon
IN their place. The agricultural proprietors
throughout Germany have been clamorng for
higher duties on h corn and there b are
mendous strain Of military expenses. Wages are
low times are hard and the population increases
100000 year. although 100000 emlgrants are
sent abroad Colonial experiments have not been
energetcally followed up during the year, but two
international lines of steamers TO Eastern ASIA and
Australia subsidized by the Government, have
been established. growing desire for the develop
nent of German colonies In South America is mani
tested
The most dramatic event of the year has been the
abdlcatlou ard suicide of King Louis of Bavaria.
HIS extravagant building enterprises. by which he
had embarrassed the treasury and exposed the State
to litigation for roy al debts led TO the establishment
OF a regency the gronnd of insanity. The King
was taken TO Castle Berg, on Lake Starnberg under
the care of "a famous alienlst. There he drowned
himself in company with the physician. who had
been Oyerpowered IN the water while attempting TO
rescue him.