Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1888-01-11
LAST SPRINGS wAR CLOUD.
How the Germans Made Preparations t,
Aslxanes hmm AL In fs.lu IIaaa,a IsrnIans..

Advance Immediately Upon Trance.
During last spring there was great, ex-
element along the Franco German bor-
der over the arrest of Schnaebele, the
French commissioner. 1t was thought
at one time that the irritation caused by
his arrest would lcatl to actual war.
Many alarming reports We're telegraphed
over the world at that time. But the
worst scnsationalists in all of their exag-
gcrations gave no picture which APP
preached to the real situation along the
border. / have learned since coming
into this part of the country of the ire
nendous preparations made by The Ger
mans at that time to enter france. 1t
has never been published how near the
German army came to crossing the bor-
Der. / have learned the story of q most
evcntful night at Metz from the lips of a
private soldier, German of more than
ordinary education and experience. He
told me this story at Bonn, where he had
gone. just after he had finished his three
years service. He was in the neighbor-
hool of Metz all through the border
troubles, of last sprinr. lie said that at
the time .of the Schnaebele affair every
man il, tho German army was given to
understand that war was inevitable.
Each man made his preparations to suit
such an emergency. Small traps were
packed up and letters written home as q
preliminary to ;m active and desperate
campaign. 1t was the intention of the
German authorities to strike France, if at
all, without word of warning, and to
thereby secure all the advantage that
could be obtained by a swift, powerful
and unexpected movement of aggression
upon French territory.
Upon one occasion of that exciting
spring, late at night, there came a dis
patch from Berlin which placed the Ger
man army on the frontier at once on the
qsu vive. Every man was turned out, the
horses of the cavalry were all saddled
and men placed at their heads. Fifty
thousand horses We're saddled that night,
waiting second dispatch from Berlin.
My military friend says that there were
then upon the border and within twenty
four hours reach 100000 German sol
diers. Fifty thousand cavalrymen were
ready that night for rapid scurry across
the frontier. If the imperial hand at
Berlin had pressed the electrical button
for the signal, instantly these sc, 900 men
would have dashed forward like bolt,
and when morning came the world
would have been treated te 1.-The alarming
spectacle of a great German army on
French territory. Ii the sensationalists
could have only known then the story, OF
that night it is possible that the publica-
ton of its history would alone have pro-
voked war. But the Germans waited
silent and ready all through the dark
night without receiving any further word
from Berlin. Towards morning the
horses were msaddled, accouterments
were put away and the men retired for a
short rest. But the secret Of the prepara-
ton was well kept, no word of it reach
ing any French or foreign publication.
This night incident illustrates well the
German side of tho war question. The
Germans know that the French have been
preparing for fifteen years to make them
selves strong. The Germans have, in
turn, worked with greater diligence to
meet this growth of the French. Their
future plan is to remain in this constant
condition of energetic readiness, and, in
the event of possible conflict, to be the
first to strike the blow. They are thor
oughly well informed concerning every
movement of the French, while the latter
do not appear to have the same ability as
the Germans to keep their secrets. The
Germans here say that they have no
difficulty in finding out anything that the
French are planning to do. The whole
German army favors another war. This
is but natural. The officers look to a
war for promotion and distinction. But
the preparations along the frontier on
both sides are now so complete that this
very fact is a strong guaranty in favor of
peace. The German officers here say
that the French defenses are by no means
as complete as they have been described,
and that they cannot for one moment
withstand the onward march of the Ger
mans il they should resolve again to in
wade France.
talked witha number of German peo-
pie before coming here, and find that the
business classes are opposed to war.
Their taxes are now very high. The in
demnity secured from France was Just
about enough to compensate for the
losses of the army material during the
war. More than this, the loss of life
upon the part of the Germans was very
great. was told by prominent Ger
man banker the other day that upward of
100, 900 Germans died during the ten
years which followed the war from the
effects of exposure and har6ships of the
Franco German campaign. Nineteen
thousand Germans fell near Metz. The
French are gallant fighters when well
led, and whenever the two sides were
brought face q face the loss of life was
very great. IT. c. Crawford in New York
World.