Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-11-06
France and Germany.

Sixteen years have elapsed since
the terrible war between Prussia
and her German allies and Franco
took place. Every one knows its
result, and the vast changes which
it brought about. France lost not
only thousands of men, but many
millions of treasure, and Alsace and
Lorraine, two of the most thrifty
and prosperous provinces.
Prussia. on the other hand, not
only won complete victory over the
French, but found herself powerful
enough to restore the German Elm
pirc, and place the Prussian King
over all Germany as its ruler.
But crushed to the very earth as
France was, she recovered from her
weakness and mlstOrtnncs much
more rapidly than it had been sup.
posed she would. She paid tho
enormous indemnity of five thOuS-
and million francs which victorious
Prussia imposed upon her, several
years before it was actually due
Within five years after the war
France had once more become Il
powerful and fairly prosperous ma
tion. One of the first results Of
this rapid recovery was that the
French republic paid Il great deal
attention to the army, which had
proved mlSerably insutlicientin the
conflict with the Germans. Itwas
imperatiyely necessary in the opin.
ion Of French statesmen that the
military force should be put upon
u sound and formidable footing rs
speedily as possible. Ever since
that period vast sums Of money
have been spent annually for this
purpose, and much attention has
been paid by the French to army
organization. Last year the ex
pcnditure of the Ministry of Wal
was about SIN hundred million
francs Zone hundred and twenty
million dollars,) while the toIa
strength of the army, ON peace
footing, approached five hundred
thousand men.
There can he no doubt that, dur
ing all this time, very many French
men have cherished the idea ant
the hope that he day for revenge
and for recovering Alsacc and Lor
ralne, would sometime come, AM
have looked forward eagerly to tha
time. Possibly,moreover, this idei
that another war with Germany
might arise, has been u reason il
the minds OF French statesmen fol
bestowing so much attention upon
the army.
1t is very evident that the Ger
mans have long kept their eyes
anxiously on France. suspectine
that u design to renew warfare was
widely entertained in the latter
country. Very recently Prince
Bismarck is said to have declared
that he cared little what took place
in Bulgalia,and that "the necessity
of German arnaments is due tC
France"
"Every French newspaper" say
the official GcrnaILIIllrnal. "proyC
that France is Wiakilg rapid pref
aration .tr6; fight, and that fnanci;
sacla sncies arc being made to rails
zine efficiency of her army. Germ;
ny must always keep her eyes fxe
OIL France"
Both nations are tllusseen stani
ing, fnll-armed, tho gaze of eac
riveted, with jealousy, suspicio
and expectancy, on the other
When such Il state of feeling cX
lists, and has for years existed, be
tween two rival and neighborin
powers, which have been locked il
deadly combat, the danger to peac
must be very great, and the sud
den outbreak of Il mighty war mus
be feared. In the event of til
) coming of such a war, the rival al
mics, whatever their relative eff
cheney, would surely be much large
than they were sixteen years age
a surprising statement was mad
not long ago, by well known Eng
fish military officer, that the Frencl
forces, ON a war footing, (includin!
reserves, militia, and SO on), wonll
number not less than two and
half millions OF men; and that if
war should last three months, al
this vast multitude Of soldier
would be put into the field.
According to official figures, til,
total German army on Il war footing
is even more colossal, reaching tw,
million six hundred thousand men
The regular army Of Germany il
time of peace is a little over f0u
iltlnQftQ thousand.
A new conflict between Germany
and France would certainly be bit
ter, desperate and doubtful; ant
the present situation is such tina
no matter how soon the contlic
may break out, it will not be unex
pected.-Youth's Companion.