Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-21
DR.. Albert Shaw Sees Great Danger
in the Present Temper Of
THE GREAT POWERS OF EUROPE.
France and Germany Are Both Carrying
Chips on Their Shoulders.
FIGURES As TO FIGHTING STRENGTH.
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH. ]

| And this is the ominous truth. Let it be
admitted that the personal and selfish aims
of Napoleon Ill precipitated the war OF
1870; it is no longer true that the possibil-
ity ofwar waged by France against Ger
many lies within the control of a ruler or a
governing clique.
France has for the first moment since the
establishment of the Third Republic 20
years ago, attained the bliss of comparative
domestic repose The reaetionary elements
are disintegrating. The Republic has at
last made its peace with the Church. The
Vatican has at last instructed the French
clergy to oppose republicanism no longer,
but to accept cheerfully ana to espouse 10y
ally the principle and practice of govern
| ment by the people. Heretofore, to be a
thorough-going Republican on the conti-
nent of Europe has been to stand outside
the pale Of the Catholic Church. That is
now tobe changed.
France Is Strong To-Day.
What is the consequence A republic
that was shaken to its very foundations SO
that its strongest men were full of dire alarm
less than three years ago by reason of the
Boulanger movement, has to-day the frmest
based and most confident government in all
Europe President Carnot has lately COM
pleted tour of the country under eircum-
stances altogether unprecedented in France.
Loyalty to the Republic and cordial respect
for its Chief Magistrate were manifested
everywhere.
At last the French people have accepted
their form Of government. The present
Ministry is one of unusual strength-the
best France has known for years. Six
months is the average life of French Min
istry; but this one, which De Freycinet
formed in March, 1890, and which includes
Ribot Rouvier, Ives, Guyot, Oonstans and
other able and experienced statesmen, seems
destined to complete its second year without
losing its parliamentary prestige. De Frey
clnet himself holds the portfolio Of war.
France Mourns Her Lost Provinces.
1t Is often said that foreign wars are un-
dertaken to divert the nations mind and
energy from domestic difficulties that might
lead to revolution. Is then Frances new
and happy condition of domestic tranquility
to be deemed an omen favorable to the
peace of Europe? On the contrary, it is the
most threatening of all the danger signals
French pride and hope are reviving nightly
under the improved situation at home, and
there is no longer any attempt at conceal
ment Of the nations purpose to fight Ger
many and to regain the Rhine provinces at
the first favorable opportunity for attack.
IF France and Germany should fight
single-handed combat, all other nations
maintaining strict neutrality, what would
be the outcome2 Of course no man who
has an opinion can demonstrate his view to
the point of certainty. But at least no in
telligent outsider nowadays thinks of re-
garding German success as a foregone con-
clusion. Twenty years ago German prep
aration was incomparably better than
French. It is no longer So The German
army of to-day is so far beyond the German
military machine of 20 years ago, in scien-
tifc perfection as well as in size, that its
development would be without precedent or
parallel but for the marvellous contemporary
develop Gent of the French army.
Germany's Available Fighting Forces.
Some facts and figures may help us to
grasp the contrast of two decades. In July,
1870, on the peace footing, the total German
forces under arms were 800, 900 men. A
month later, about ], ,150, 900 Germans were
under arms as trained soldiers, and /, 200, 900
must be regarded as the very maximum of
the German war footing 20 years ago. The
German Government to-day publishes no
military figures, and it is not easy to know
just what the size of the available army
X,
that is, the number of men Kept actually
under arms, is now almost exactly 500, 900.
But on days notice Germany could bring
into camp and into perfect military organi-
zation full 2, 900, 900 young men every one Of
whom is thoroughly trained soldier.
And this includes only the men available
under the military laws for foreign duty
nor does it include the railway military
staff and other special services. The Gland
sturm," available for purposes of defense,
numbers 750, 1000, and altogether Germany
has no less than 100000 vigorous men all
trained in the art of war and all instantly
available in operations on German soil Con-
sidering equipment and all the items that
make up military efficiency, the German
army of to-day is much more than twice as
strong as it was 20 years ago.
French Strength in the Field.
But the French army has grown, mean
while, also. 1t had only 800, 900 men to op-
pose to the German hosts in 1870, and they
we're inferior in training, organization and
equipment. To-day the available military
forces of France are divided into four
classes, of which the first includes men who
have been fully trained by service in the
"active army" from three to five years, and
these men aggregate more than 1000, 900.
The second class includes men who have had
one years active training. and numbers per-
haps 5000 The third class numbering
fully 800, 900, consists of men who have been
trained when called out for few weeks |
each year to encampment and drill with the |
reserve, and is up to the standard of.the |
best militia forces
The fourth class, of from 800, 900 to ,00O,- |
600 men, is made up of the various nom |
eombatant services, all of which, however,
are as essential to modern military opera |
tions as are the infantry and cavalry. The |
sum total of the French army, on war |
footing, is now fixed at 4, 100, 900 men. In |
theory, of course, every young man in both |
France and Germany is trained to be SOL |
dier; and paper estimates of the relative |
strength of the two armies are not to be |
deemed Indicative of the forces that would |
sctually be modified in case of the out |
break of war.
France in Splendid Condition.
The French generals and officers have |
made it their business to bring their scien- |
lard, and it may be doubted whether the
army of France is not better prepared for
war to-day than the great army of Ger
many. France has perfected her great mil
tary railway system with a view to throw
ing the largest possible contingents of troops
across the frontier in the shortest possible
space of time. Everything is in momentary
The French armies are almost
continually engaged in mobilizations and
extensive maneuvers; and it will be strange
ll-luck for the Republic if the heavy fight
ng in the next war is not forced upon the
,ast side of the Rhine.
The worlds attention is more sharply
lrawn to Russia's movements southwark at
,ither end of the Black Sea, as likely to in