The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-18
GERMANY's WAR STRENGTH.
The Minister of Marine Defends the
Navy-The Frontier Forces.


Navy-The Frontier Forces.
BERLIN, Jan. 17.AIn the Reichstag to-
day, during the course of the debate on the
naval estimates, Herr Rickert referred to
the recent statement in the Cologne Gazette
to the effect that the chief importance of
the German navy lay in its strength for
coast protection, it being a weapon of de
fense rather than offense. If this were
true, he asked, why continue to lavish
money on a navy which was already sufii-
cient for all defensive purposes.
Gen. Won Caprivi, Minister of Marine, re-
piled that the German navy was equal to
other purposes than coast defense. The ad-
miralty he said, would adhere to its plans
for strengthening the navy. In its present
condition, however, the navy had no reason
to fear meeting any foe.
THE FORCES ON THE FRONTIER.
The MiIitdr WOchenbldt publishes, with
authority, a reply to the IhUdIide Russo s
late comparisons of the frontier. 1t says
that authentic estimates of the peace effec-
tiveS stationed in the frontier provinces of
Austria, Russia and Germany show that
Russia has 3l9,500 men, with $50 field guns;
Austria 80, 600 men, with 160 field guns,
and Germany 9S, 200 men and 33S
field guns. The WochenbidH next
compares the military situation on the Rus
sian side of the frontier with that on the
German side, taking the forces within Ter
ritories of about equal area, and shows that
the Russians, within 1881 square kilo-
metres, have 125, ,275 men, "a, 1913 horses and
2,711 guns of all kinds, while the Germans
within 1l9, ,456 square kilometres, have only
81, IA men, Il, $40 horses and 23S guns. The
garrison of Warsaw, consisting of 10000
men, 5000 horses and so field guns is con-
trasted with the garrison of Koenigsberg
consisting of ZOO men 400 horses and 30
field guns and the garrison of Breslau, with
5000 men, l, ,160 horses and 32 field guns.
Referring to the IludIide Russe's asser-
ton that 1850 kilometres of railway has
been constructed in Eastern Germany since
1873, the WOchenbtoH states that the rail-
way extension since 1878 amounts to only
| ,S65 kilometres.
Diplomatic circles are discussing the re-
ported efforts of NJ Flourens, the French
Foreign Minister, to bring about an under
standing between France, Russia and Eng
land, and are incredulous of his success.
RUssIA's IMPERIAL GUARDS.
LONDON, Jan. IS, A. MA dispatch
st. Petersburg says: "The alleged import
ant reduction of the effective strength Of
the Imperial Guards turns out to be a very
small matter. Only 600 men unfit for ser
vice have been dismissed. The various
diplomatic representatives here have mott
fed their respective governments Of the
real character OF the reduction"
POLAND WANTS PEACE.
ST. PETERSBURG, Jan 17.-Polish papers
publish "A manifesto appealing to young
men not to lend an ear to political agitators
whether their aid is sought for revolution
ary movements or whether they are asked
TO take the side of either Russia or Austria
in the event of war. Such a contest, the
manifesto says, must in any case be a Ca
lamity for Poland, therefore the greatest
circumspection is necessary.