The morning call., 1892-11-27
WORDS THAT BURN
Germany Sees a Picture
of War
PAINTED IN LETTERS OF FIRE.
Williams New Chancellor Tells What
Is to Be Found Beyond the From
tiers OF the France of To-Day.
Special 20 THE MORNING CALL.

New YORK, Nov. 26.-Smalley's letter 20
the Tribune from London says: The open
ing Of the Imperial Diet in Berlin on Tues
day marks a crisis and is probably the
signal for general agitation throughout
Germany. There has been, indeed, 4 great
agitation for months past with Bismarck
al the head of il. What the Reichstag will
really dOito give expression in an authOriUa-
tive way to the feelings of the country is
the question which stirs all German breasts.
The first two sittings supplied each a sensa-
tion of its own. The Emperor's speech and
the Chaneellor's speech were both OF the
most serious kind. There has been a dis
puie as TO whether the Emperor, who is
soldier before all things, would assent TO a
reduction Of the service with the colors
from three years TO two, in consideration Of
tie large increase proposed In the effective
force Of the standing army.
it Is very likely that he hesitated Mt first,
but his adhesion to the move is now COM
plete.
He advocates this increase on the only
possible ground. namely, the danger to Ger
many from the growing military strength
of France and Russia. He names neither
OF those powers. There is no word OF Of
tense or menace TO anybody, though he has
chosen a curious phrase when he alleges
that the duty Of Germany to augment her
military forces has become imperative be-
cause of the development of the ''repres-
sive" power of other European States. The
French are quick TO infer that Germany
would attack them if France bad not grown
too strong; an Inference which the Chancel-
l0r dispelS
Capriy's speech on Wednesday was
u
was able enough 10 furnish Of Itself good
answer to Prince Bismarck's taunts at his
successors incapacity-able not merely as q
speech, but in its broad view Of affairs, and
IN its vigorous handling of great issues
There was a note of true statesmanship in
his refusal 0 appeal 10 a panic in order to
carry his bill. He would not, as he said,
Jingle his sword. He declined to saw
that war was in sight. lie avowed
that the relations OF Germany with
all other powers were friendly. He
declared with emphasis against policy Of
aggression. lie discovered himself from
thai party, II party there he, W hich would
attack france or Russia lest France or Rus
sia grow too strong But he put before the
ReIchstag aud before Germany more plainly
than 1t has ever been put before the
tremendous change that has taken place
since 1870 in tile relative military strength
Of France and Germany. Should Germany
ever again cross the French frontier she
would meet not, as before, light army corps
10 her seventeen, but forces numerically
equal, # not superior. to her own, splendid
ly organized and equipped, and with en-
enormous reserve force behind them. If
she defeated them she would nave next to
deal with the series Of formidable f0rtresses
O. the Moselle and the Meuse each stronger
than Srassburg or Metz in 1870. Then, if
the German armies arrived before Paris,
neither would that be the Paris of 1870,
but a fortified city the like of which the
world has never seen, with thirty-fge forts
and an outer line of defenses 100 miles in
extent That WAS the picture Of war
painted In FIRE.
1t is stated. apparently with authority,
that Gust Conservative member of Parlia-
ment for the Stanford Division, Lincoln
shire, is the real buyer of the Pail Mall
Gazette, or is, a any rate, to direct and edit
1t. That gives promise of an interesting
paper. Gust has had little or no experience
iD journalism, but has long been regarded
by those who know as the coming man on
the Conservative side. He, like George
Cursor aud one or two more, is among the
rising hopes, not perhaps OF the stern and
unbepdDg Tories. but Of the cultivated and
rational Conservatives, whose main creed is
not 10 20 to too fast