The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-11-19
GERMAN ARMY BILL.
More Than Six Hundred Thousand
Men Constantly Under Arms.
Under the Law, in Time of War, tho
Military Strength Would Re six Mill
Hons - Germanys Tremendous
Debt--.lncreased Population.

FRANKFORT. Nov. 12.-Finance Is
gradually getting the better of politics,
md decision between the two must be
coming on apace. With debt of four
billion roubles, an unredeemed no;o
issue of about an equal amount and a
several years deficit of something
like 500, 900, 900 roubles, also. uncov-
cred, Russians have again failed
to raise the contemplated loan
in France. Ardently as they may
wish to play off Russia against Ger
many, the French decline to send mon
ey to their ought-to-be ally in his
straits. AS the London and Berlin
markets are likewise closed to them, it
follows that the Russians have got to
be pacific or else to play some desperate
trick if they wish to try and make
things square. Though incomparably
better off, Germany and France, to say
nothing of Austria, Italy and the minor
fry, are following in the wake of tho
tottering car.
Nothing daunted by the deficit of 5O,-
900, 900 marks, the German government
proposes to add about 100, 900 men to it's
standing army at an outlay of 1OO,O
600 marks year, so formidable an in
crease being required TO restore the
military equilibrium between the triple
and dual alliances. Germany, as Italy
and Austria are losing breath, thinks
herself obliged to bear the brunt of the
day, and do alone what her friends are
avoweqly unable to take a hand in. A
few figures win elucidate the strain put
upon Germany in consequence.
The German population, notwith-
standing an exodus of 10000 a
year has increased 25 per cent. within
the last twenty years. OF the 25, 900, 600
males included i'll 81, 600, 900 inhabitants,
about 8, 700, 900 being between 20 and as
years of age, are liable to serve when
called out. Under the new bill rather
more than 100000 men are to
be kept constantly under arms,
all able-bodied men being now
for the first time placed in the
ranks This will cause the cancellation
of 100, 600 exemptions hitherto annually
granted for reasons of economy. If this
is fearful tax to bear in times of
peace, the burden will be incomparably
augmented in war, when, with an am
nual recruitment of 2SO,OOO men, liable
to serve twenty-four years in line and
reserve, the army, after allowing for
deaths and invalids, must be estimated
at about COCO, 900, or two-thirds of all
able-bodied males in the prime of life.
The present figure of 100000 was
considered the acme of military effort
compatible with the continuance of
civic life; the future total suggests no
longer an army, but an armed nation,
on the pattern of the ancient Teutonic
tribes when on the war-path. What was
natural enough two thousand years
ago is the reverse in these modern
times; what was a spontaneous eff
fort on the part of primitive tribes,
rejoicing in dealing and receiv-
ing death, is left an accursed inflic-
ton upon pacific race bent upon de-
fense only, and threatened by French
vanity and Russian savagery, neverthe-
less Looking upon things from pure
ly arithmetical point of view, and
drawing inevitable conclusions there
from, it is hardly to be wondered at
that the leading military writers of
Great Britain should just have combin-
ed to pile volume on the chances of
what they represent as "the immediate,
ly impending war"