The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-30
FRANCE AND GERMANY.
A Military Editors Reasons for Thinking tn
Former VIII Win in the Next Fight.

A Military Editors Reasons for Thinking the
Former Will Win in the Next Fight.
r The military editor of La France complains of
the receipt of several letters in which he is ac-
cused Of taking too favorable view of the mill
tary power of the French Republic, and of sim
ply putting mis- wishes into tbs form of realities.
''The Germans are more numerous and stronger
than we are," the writer's tell him. 'and if war
were to break out tomorrow we would be beat
en-. just We were in 1870" But he evidently
does not agree with them. "Our mobilization
he says, ..can no longer have secrets for anys.
body after the experiences, even ircornp1ste, that
was had last autumn with the army corps of
Toulouse. Is it not true that the cavalry reei-
ments were ready to move at the appointed
ime, and that the infantry and artillery and all
on the fifth daya 1t is SO true that
every citizen of Toulouse can testify
to it, and the Germans know it we'll as do.
This simple fact goes to prove that the army is
ready, aud that it can be transported to any part
of the frontier rapidly the German troops
can arrive there, and that on the frontier
troops can open fire when they get out of their
cars just as easily as they did in parade on the
green hills of Narouse
''lt is said that the Germans can arrive quick
er and in greater numbers than can That
don't believe; but, If they gained few
hours, even entire day, the fate of the
campaign would in no wise be compromised,
sighted chauvins may say to the contrary. But
are the German soldiers more numerous than
oursl We say no. reeretting that false patriot
ism compels to hold back the ample evidence
within our reach. No, the Germans cannot be
more numerous than we at the rendezvous
preceding the great battle which will be fought
somewhere in the valley of the Meuse, upon
the right bank or the left, whichever 1t may be-
At the point where the champions will meet
under conditions sensibly identical, the victory
will be with those who have the most pluck
That ia cartain The nuastiou fhau Is raduced
to a comparison of pluck. If we have the pluck
will be victorious, and il we don't possess it.
the great size OF our battalous won't prevent
from being devoured by the enemy.
cit is also said that the Italians will invade
toe valley of the Rhone at the time that
the Germans come into that part of the Meuse.
Maybe. But as it is considerably further from
Turin to Grenoble or Lyons than from Metz to
Verdun, it is beyond doubt tn at the prelimin-
Meuse before the Italians can cross the Alps;
and it is also beyond question that if we are VIC
tors on the Meuse. the Italians, who sensi
BILE and prudent people. won't advance very far
in the valley of the Rhone in offensive
fare that would become for them big with perils.
Therefore, it is necessary to be the strongest at
she Meuse. We must win the first battle, after
which we will be numerically strong enough to
invest Strasbourg, it may be taken for certain
that when we shall have arrived there, it will
not be the bourgeois of the landsturm nor the
italian militia that will roll back our victorious
armies.
Therefore, we have the profound conviction
that, practised drilled. and commanded as
are. and will be, we must win the first
battle; and for this reason ought to view all
eventualities without fear"