The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1886-12-18
FOREIGN NEWS.
EUROPE.
opening Of the German ReIehstag.


BERLIN, November 25th The
Reichstag was opened to-day by Herr
Won Boetnicher, Minister of the Int
rior, who read speech from the
throne, in which the emperor says:
The object of the policy of the empire,
which enjoys peaceful relations with all
the states, is to exert, in favor of the
maintenance Of concord among all the
powers, an influence which accrues to
Germany from her love of peace, from
the universal confidence reposed in the
empire, owing to the fact that Germany
is not concerned in the pending ques-
tons, and from the emperor's close
friendship with two neighboring courts.
The emperors speech announces that
a measure will be introduced to raise
the effective strength of the German
army, which, he says, is justified by the
increasing army of neighboring states.
The measure, he says, is indispensable
to German security. The resources
required will be raised by increasing
matricuatory contributions and apply
ing them to the public credit. The
emperor also mentions a measure to
extend the Workman's Accident Insur-
ance. The government abandons tax
alton reform until the people can more
clearly recognize its necessity.
The text of that part of the empe.
ror's speech relating to the Septennate
bill is as follows: By the law of May
6, 1880, the peace-effective was fixed
until March 81, 1888. Our military
system, therefore, requires reviewing on
a legal basis The army is guarantee
of lasting protection and of the bless
ings Of peace. Although the policy of
the empire is always pacific, Germany,
in view of the development OF the mill
tary establishments of neighboring
states, cannot longer defer increasing
her defensive force, especially the
peace-efective. The. bill, therefore,
will be submitted providing for an in
crease, to take effect from the begin
ming Of the new financial year. The
emperor, in accord with Federal Gov
ernments, feels confidence that the
necessity of the demand, which is indis.
pensable IN the interests of national
security, will be recognized with full
determination by the whole German
people and their representatives
The pacific tone of the speech has
strengthened the Bourse, There was a
large buying to-day of Austrian, Rus
sian and Hungarian securities. 1t is
expected that the Septennate bill when
presented to the Reichstag will be i'm.
medlately referred to commission Of
twentyone members, thus postponing
critical debate on the measure unit
January.
STATUS or THE GERMAN ARMY
The Septennate bill fixes the peac,
effectiveness of the army until 1894 a
46S,4So men, not including single yea
volunteers. The infantry will consis
of 534 battalions, cavalry 465 squad
rons; field artillery, 364 batteries; for
artillery, ISr batteries; pioneers, rre
battalions, and the military train IIS
bsttalions. There will be two diyi
sional and folr infantry brigade stats
five regiments and fifteen battalions o
infantry and one battalion of Jaegers
To the field artillery will be added two
sectional staffs; to the railway corps
three battalion stats and nine compa
MES, and to the transport corps four
teen companies. The permanent ex'
pendlture Of the army is placed a
$4,000, 900 marks, and special and non
recurring expenditures $4,000, 600
marks.
The preamble of the bill reports or
the danger besettlng Germany in thu
large increase of French forces, anC
says the postponement of the strength
ening of the German army might bC
attended with fatal results and urge
that the Importance of active servic,
is absolutely imperative, because Ger
many is obliged to make compensation
for numerical differences by high train
ing.