The morning call., 1891-03-30
WAR PROSPECTS IN EUROPE.

WAR PROSPECTS, IN EUROPE.
The indications still point TO an early dis
tnrbance OF the peace of Europe. King Leo
pold of Belgium is so uneasy that he mas oe-
handed Categorically whether Eneiahu' III
the event Of war, would live up 10 net 'le"'-
les and guarantee the neutrality OIL Deis'uhI'
Vbst answer he received is not known.
The disnatcbes contain mere cOnjectureS.
Pat If is evident that If two armies OF
half million men each should drift into
BE GUM to void their controversy, say III
the neighborhood of the historic plain u
Waterloo, an English guarantee OIL peI-
girm's territory would not De WoItn Hlu tO'I
Leopold must know this as wen aS any OIe'
and his application for renewal Oh En-
glands covenants me rely SHOWS tle anxiety
that he feels.
The possible approach of war is further
indicated by the condition of the French and
German armies. In the April Harper there
appears an article on the condition OF the
French army. As soon as the German N
demnity had been paid the best French
minds turned their attention to the improve
meot of the army. Every department was
revolutionized. Every branch of the service
which had broken down in 1870 was rellou-
eIei. Infantry, artillery and cavalry were
fgliDred with new arms and these were
ell .Eced from time to time at much expense
as asst as newer and more effective weapons
vcse invented The system Of company
ftaliOn and brigade drill was made THOR
f IA and complete. Throughout the army
.iplne is most rigid, and the greatest
us have BEEN taken to develop the minds
bodies Of the soldiers. Above all,
5cial attention has been paid to perfect
the system of mobilization. 1t was by
..r superior mobilization that Germany was
to organize victory in 1870, The French
i. ike ever thing else under the Empire,
Do. grown rusty, AID France was never
at to place her full strength at the point
outact with the enemy Now, a French
Y corps, with supplies and reserve aim
uiton complete, can be put in motion in
aI Incredibly short period Of time, and The
% careful plans for their transportation
ng all TO Tie eastern frontier have been
per ected.
On the other hand, not only has the Ger
maj army made no material progress in the
ras. twenty years, but the latest dispatches
report an Ominous epidemic of Socialism
among the troops. Large numbers Of SOL
dieTS have been arrested for having in their
possession Socialist books aud tracts, and
tie Government spies report that whole
regiments are infected. The German sol
der always retains something of his citizen
ship He is fresh from the people and
returns TO the people after brief expert
ence of military life. 1t is natural that he
should share the feelings Of the people,
should sympatbize with their hopes, partici-
pat in their aspirations and feel as they do
oG lie subjects of taxation and popular
rig :. If the reports which have lately
beer made Of the temper Of the German
sol.ery are correct Won MOltke'S successor
We lead into the field half-hearted
ara which could not cope with The ardent
tIJ ch leyes, animated by the duty OF pay
Ing I debt long since due.
Il must always be remembered that the
COST )f maintaining an army on a war foot
ing. " nearly SO, is almost as great as that
Of Haintainlug an army in the field. Ger
many, Austria, Italy ana France are spend
ing very year for military purposes a sum
Of money which almost equals the expense
Of a war. Some Of them are actually bleed
ing % DEATH 1t is tie cost of the military
Establishment which uudeflies the heavy
taxation that keeIs the German and Italian
people on the verge Of Instruction. The
great German army is the real promoter of
Socialism in tile German empire, and the
oYergroWn Italian army is the great obstacle
TO tie successful administration Of public
affairs on the peninsula. All these consld-
eratinns make for war Statesmen saw that
II tie armies are costing so much that the
tax2 on they involve dives tax-pnyers to
tie erge Of revolution, they may just as
WEB be put to tie uses for which they were
mustered ana set to The business of destroy
iag each other.