Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-28
DREAMS OF WAR.
Horrible Nightmares OF impending
Conflict Hover Over France.

S'''i N'NihuhE lutlNt ltOHt tdlllS 10 l0UlOn,
| from Brest to Belfount On the boulevards,
| in the clubs, in the workshops, beside the
family fresidc men, women and children
are stirred to the quick by the great question
of the day, "ls there to be peace or is there TO
be war2' Yesterday the Soleil, the mouth.
piece of the Orleans princes, sounded the toe
sin OF alarm by proposing the following ter
rible questions:
us it true that a German army Is already
concentrating on the French frontiers? Is it
true that l5O,OOO troops are already in Alsace-
Lorraine with provisions and ammunition for
5uOOO more? Is it true that the peasants of
the Rhenish provinces have been notified of
an early requisition of all their horses? Is it
true that all the station masters in Alsace-
Lorraine have been ordered to make prep.
arattons for the transportation of an enor-
nous amount of war material? Is
1t true that Germany, in few DAYS,
will be able to concentrate in front
OF Nancy 100000 men? Is it true that the
pisn of the German staff is to surprise MS
before we are able to mobilize our forces,
and thus to dislotatc our armies by sudden
attack on our frontier?"
The Republican National SAYS: "The
famous fifteenth German army CORPS counts
10000 infantry, 1000 cavalry and 81 batteries
OF artillery. Behind it stand the second
eighth, eleventh, twelfth and fourteenth
army corps, ready at a few hours notice. to
join the forces already echelonned along our
frontier Let Germany make her prepara-
tons, that Is her role, but to accuse
us oil wishing to bring about war; of seeking
quarrel with the Germans, is un peu trop
etronte. Germans should leave such knav-
ish tricks to England. Nevertheless, if we
want peace, because peace is necessary for
us and for Europe, that is no reason for Ger
many to try and trighten us bv her threats.
The day that France is attacked France will
1ight win the supreme energy Of nation
mat refuses to perish. The struggle will be
fearful. The results will be terrible for the
conqueror as well as for the conquered. Let
those in whose hands peace or war rests
think twice before running such tremendous
risks"
a CONSERVATIVE OPINION.
The conservative republican Journal de
Debates says: ut Is childish to deny that
the rumorS OF war are firmly believed in,
Dut France knows that an offensive war
against Germany would be an act Of pure
madness, and all the recent measures of our
diplomacy clearly prove that to maintain the
peace of Europe should be our chief occupa-
ton. Won Moltke and his fellow workers
know that military laws are not
made for the morrow only. In
preparing this army bill aud in descending
In the reichstag, it is their duty to look far
ahead and place the military situation in the
most unfavorable aspect, and the calculations
OF the German staff are based upon the SUD-
position OF powerleSs or neutral Austria a
hostile France, and Russia allied with France.
1t would be foolish for us to complain of Won
Moltke and the German military officers for
the formation of simple hypothesis to
which nothing in the actual state of Europe
lends probability"
WHAT DE CAssAGNAC SAYS.
Paul de Cassarnac, in rAutorite, saws:
"There is no need to be pessimist to face
the events that threaten in this coming
spring. The Cologne Gazette tells us that
war between France and Germany Is inev-
liable. The North German Gazette declares
'Revanche' to be the keynote to our politics.
Even the Berliner Post admits that the situa-
ton is most serious. 1t is the Old story-tbe
cry OF wolf, WOLF at first, when there is no |
WOLF everybody is frightened; afterward no.
body heeds the cry, and that very time the |
wolf comes Our minister of war has terri
Bile faults, but nobody doubts his ardent
patriotism. Very well, now is the momen |
for us to close up our ranks in the face of
the danger that threatens u.s."
DON'T BELIEVE IN WAR.
The republican Temps says 1--WE don't
believe war Is imminent. Who would gain
bylt? Germany and all Europe know we
are nation and have an army and, ready to |
defend our territory to the last man and the |
last sou. Germany for fifteen years |
has concentrated all her efforts |
to consolidate the state of |
tnI FRO, d .,-s.4
She now is not going to reopen the question. |
AS for France, no Frenchman dreams of at
tacking Germany, and as for Germany. she
has nothing to gain by provoking war. Even
If successful she could only gain new PROV
lnccs, and she herself feels she has not vet
digeSted the two won in 1870.
BELIEVES IN PEACE.
Figaro, in an article with a flaming head
Ing, Peace or War;" says: 1--WE believe
The answer Is peace. The German govern
ment were clanking Sabres and spurs TO get
the army through the reichstag. England
does everything in her power to aggrayate
The eastern crisis and conceal the gravity of
the state of Ireland. In short, for reasons of
home politics, both Germany and England
say war; war! when there is no danger of
war"
The Ga!ois, like Figaro royalist and
-athollc, declares that both France and Ger
many are groaning beneath the weight of
enormous armies, and the only rational
solution Is for both to agree to reduce their
'rmies to equal proportions, and urges
france to come pluckily forward and take
he Initiative by making formal purpose 10
hat effect to Germany
NJ. Banc, stalwaIt republican and vice
president of the chamber of deputies. saws:
All accusations that France is preparing for
offensive war are utterly false. All her Of
0rts are concentrated upon purely defens.
We organization for olIr fathcrland There |
5 not single Frenchmau who wants war |
or we all know that the first gun fired would |
e tile signal Tor tight for our very existence |
; 4 nation. We are all convinced of This. |
nc mranest peasant feels Ill at people can
ever UNDERGO second time disasters like |
hose of lAn without being wiped ont of the |
nap and without ceaSing IN have any ma /
.unal existence. With this creed firmly I'M |
laulcd IN the breasts of all Freuchmen. Il is
5Nurcdl not from Us that will come |
ne policy OF venture aud hazard that |
'ould let loose over all Europe the tpr,iTc
4mpcSt France viii not provoke Germany
nt 0litr any plgteNt for pro"OcatiOD, but If
'lackpd She Will sacrifice her last man and
er ast IFaneS and hight as long as the last ! .
ropot her blood remains in her veins On
salt NO!!a pcurquoi. JIG lie eryiS pas a | /
ESGLtND'S sNOW STORM.