The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-08
GERMANY'S SHIPS OF WAR
TIE GOVERNMENT JUST ESCAPES
DEFEAT ON THE BILL.


to Guard tho Approaches to the Baltic
Canal
Copyrighted, 1891, bg ne Nei0 Yors Associated
PressA
BERLIN. March by his personal in
fluence Emperor William has succeeded in
preventing the defeat IN the Reichstag of
the government on the proposed addition to
the navy, but this has only been done by in
ducing some OF the members to abstain
from voting. The debate on the subject is
close. It Is fact that both the center and
freisinnige parties were strongly opposed
to concsdinG the amounts required for
the construction Of two OF three gunboats,
one iron clad and one dispatch boat.
The question itself, though not
OF striking import, became of serious
moment for the government when the two
parties combined to oppose an increase of
the navy on general principles. During the
week past the ministers entertained at din
ner the leaders of the Center party, and the
emperor bestowed personal courtesies upon
several influential members Of the Reich-
stag. The governments demand was finally
limited to two gunlboats. To-day's division
in the Rsichstag gave the government 121
against n.
A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY LA CKING.
The constitution requiring that tosmake
the decision on measure valid one-half of
the members must VOTE and there being
one short of that number voting In the
division to-day, the question will be re-
suned Monday. Since the committee of
the House heard OF Admiral Hollmanns
frank disclosures Of the admiralty project
10 restore Germany to the rank Of a great
naval power, the Reiohstag has been
thoroughly alarmed, and IL has been
difficult to persuade that body
to coBcede even reasonable demands.
1t was painful to hear Chancellor Won
CapriVi yesterday evening plead the neces-
sity for two more gunboats to guard the
| approaches to the Baltic canal. Herr Wind
thorst, the centrist leader. contended that
the canal would not be completed before
1898, and that the building and equipping Of
the gun boats could well wait. Chancellor
Won Caprivi asserted that the canal
would be opened In 1893, and held
that Germany ought to have vessels ready
TO protect ii, as 1t could not be protected by
land fortihcatlons alone He would simply
ask the members TO refer back the vots to
the committee. As a last resort the govern
ment was prepared to strike OFF a sufficient
! amount from the installments allotted for
The construction OF four great ironclads TO
enable the naval authorities to build two
gunboats.
DON'T WANT TO FIGHT ON THE WATER.
On motion of Baron Manteuffel the mat
ter will again be referred TO the committee
on Mondays the government having sus-
tanned decisive check to its ambitious
scheme for navy The action Of the House
clearly declares that the national opinion is
adverse to any attempt to make Germany
| great naval power, and that any contest
with foreign power must be fought out on
land.
THE EMPEROR DISAPPOINTED.
Emperor William Is very much discon-
tented over the defeat Of his cherished idea
Of grand navy. He lays the blame for
the defeat upon the indisoretion OF Admiral
| Holman in making his disclosures and
Chancellor Won CaprIvi's want of parlia-
nentary tact. Admiral HOLMAN
rSsarys6p Hss GF'a of the rsgh sdgrnty sho Se
position Of Chancellor von Capriyi is under
stood to be critical, although the emperor
ought not TO blame the chancellor for fol-
lowing his orders with a fair display of skill, /,
or for the reverse in the Reichstag, the sue
ceedlng episode OF the Empress Frederick's
visit to Paris, and the menacing labor con-
1icts. Imperial circles consider the chan
| cellor as unable to control the com mbination,
and point to his early downfall.
Won wALDERsEE IN FAVOR AGAIN.
The emperor has openly taken Count Won
Waldersee into his favor. The count has
twice been called from Altoona during the
past week, and yesterday was granted a
prolonged audience by the emperor 1t
is entirely improbable that he will succeed
Chancellor Won Caprivi unless the emperor
contemplates q sudden reversal Of bis pres
ent policy. Some momentous change is
felt In the air, and an atmosphere Of anxious
expectancy enwraps official circles. En-
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a stronger foreign policy, together With a
return to the rigorous system Of socialist
repression practiced by Prince Bismarck.
Signs OF the readoption Of Prince Bis
marck's method of government have
given rise TO reports that the en-
peror has opened communication with
the ex-chancollor. Court circles credit
Gen. Won Wedell Piesdorf, who has ostensi-
bly, gone TO Copenhagen on private busi-
ness, with having been sent by the emperor
on mission TO Friederichsruhe
LABOR QUESTIONS.
The ministerial reaction against liberal
principles in dealing with labor questions is
an undoubted fact. The Refchsdnzef0er In
announcing the demands Of the miners In
the government pits, warns the mel that IL
strikes are resumed they will be vigorously
repressed. The congress OF mine owners del
egates now in progress to-day resolved unan-
| mouSly that 10 was impossible to grant the
demands Of the men, and that IL would
be reprehensible to endeRvor 10 bring about
general strike. The congress further de-
clares that the threats Of the men TO 20 on
strike will not induce the mine owners to
make any concessions. The attitude Of the
mine owners has the support of the govern
rnent. The authorities in tho miuiug
districts of Westphalia and the Rhone
provinces have been ordered to consult
with the directors of the mines With view
TO the adoption of concerted measures
against the strikers.
A MANIFESTO IN PREPARATION.
A seni-official note published to-day in
manifesto Is in course OF preparation by the
government, which proclaims the dis
pleasure OF the emperor with the miners
agitation as In direct defiance of his plans
for the amelioration Of the condition OF the
laboring classes. The socialists are accept
ing the gage Of battle thrown down by the
mine owners. backed by the government,
and support the miners, who show no signs
Of surrender. Herren Bebel, Lebknscht,
and other leaders will start ON tour of
propaganda through the disturbed districts.
BISMARCK AND THE REIcHsTAo.
Prince Bsmarck's delay In responding to
the offer of g candidature for the seat in
the Reichstag for Gestemunde strengthens
the electoral committee's belief that he
will finally accept the offer. A telegram
| from Nice has been received In Berlin an
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