The morning call., 1892-12-05

health and ambition. Could Napoleon
wake up to-day how mortified he would be
to ind where France and Germany stand
relatively Germany. from Jena TO Leipsic,
was mere province of France-humbled
and taxed for the benefit of France. Now,
Germany. since Sedan. has had the upper
hand. and owns a couple of provinces of
France. Germany is the strongest power in
Europe, and will not easily be caught in
trap by diplomatists or armies.
The German military scandal is a sensa-
ton of the first magnitude for il strong
and mastery. Germany was supposed to be
so in military affairs. But here are reyela-
lions made in a German court on the au-
thorty OF personal reports from Prussian
colonies that the Lowe weapon for the
army is a failure in large percentage of
trials, that the mechanism is bad and the
dangers imminent. Such a report brings
into 6iseredit the whole army system. of
which the Emperor stands as head. Other
countries will prick up their ears al these
revelations. The exposure discounts consid-
erably the proposed additions TO the German
army now likely to be carried by Chancellor
Caprivi. IL is true that other countries have
experienced these betrayals in contracts
and tests. Ii is suspected that the
secret of the smokeless powder OF France
was conveyed 10 Italy in a mysterious way
and that both Germany and England soon
found Ii out. Every country has smoke
less powder. The liberal use of money and
espionage will accomplish all. In the mat
ter OF big guns England has also suffered.
The 1l0-ton guns so often Wanted are
almost worthless. Artilerists are afraid
to fire them. But somehow Armstrong;
firm has always managed 10 get contracts
Tor them. For the present ii may be noted
that the Panama scandal in Paris has an
Offset in the military affairs of Germany.
construction Of steam vessels has been
demonstrated. Too often bulkheads have
broken down under the stress of storm, and
what APP cared to be good vessels have gone
TO the bottom. But the shipbuilder has i'd
vanced in his skill. and there are numbers
OF vessels now at1oat with really reliable
bulKheads. so that if even three compart-
ments were stove in the ship would float
The remarkable feat performed by the
City OF Paris. now an American steamer,
can never be forgotten. Through an eXplO-
sion IN one engine-To0m the steamer be-
came helpless. She lay in tile sea wallow-
ing from side TO side, with three cOmpart-
ments full and the engines helpless. But
the Dulkheads held firmly. and with assist
ance the steamer got TO port safely, and
actually when pumped out resumed her
voyage with one set of engines working and
one propeller revolving. In the case of the
Spree. which broke down a thousand miles
from Queenstown, the vessel was under the
disadvantage of not having twin propellers
But her bulkhead plates held securely. and
although the water poured into the dam
aged compartments she fioated quite safely.
The passengers were of course in great
alarm, as they always are when anything
goes wrong with their hopes Of a speedy
voyage. but the officers kept their heads
and safely nayigated their vessel. The
bulkhead is now becoming a reality. Even
a vessel cut in two should not go down.