The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-04
WAR IN EUROPE.
The Present Armed Peace Cannot
Long Endure.
In the Opinion Of Noted Press Corrs-
spordent the German Emperor L.
Menace - The Gensr-
al Outlook.

Whether there will speedily be a war
In Europe is question that no one can
answer, or rather one in regard to
which no answer is worth the paper on
which it is written, says Henry Labou-
chere in the North American Review.
At no period since the era of the great
Napoleon have there been such vast
armies in Europe, and either the CONT
mental powers must reduce their forces
or they will soon, one and all, be
ruined The richest country is France,
but there othe taxation is enormous.
Both Austria and Germany are compar-
atively poor; Russia's credit Is only
maintained by the French being ready
to buy its bonds; Italy is practically
bankrupt already, and, notwithstand-
ing this, an these countries are engaged
IN an insane struggle to compete with
each other IN amassing the material to
wage successful war
If war does occur it will not in all
probability be entered into of deliber-
ate design. Some foolish word will be
spoken; this Will lead to further words.
The passions will come into play, troops
will be advanced to the respective
frontiers of two states, then there will
be a collision, and the whole of the
continent will be in flames. One thing
Is certain: the present armed peace"
cannot ete-nauy exist Either the
continent must bring it to an end by
war or by reverting to a real peace
policy. Were there conflict between
France and Russia on one side, and
Austria, Germany and Italy on the
other, it is by no means certain that
the latter would come out the victors.
The French army is thoroughly reOrgan-
lied. and the French soldiers, when
properly commanded, are the best on
the continent. Russia has an endless
reserve from which to draw soldiers,
and the Russians have more staying
posver than the Germans. On the other
hand, If we are to judge by experience,
the Austrians and the Italians make
but poor soldiers, and the Germans, al
though probably their armies are more
perfect, viewed as military machines,
than any other Europe, have lost many
more battles than they have won, and
one serious reverse would lead to tho
6isintegration of the new German em-
pire.
The most dangerous man. to the Eu-
sr0pean, peace is the German emperor.
tHeis .acracl1-brained Prussian heuten-
ant and an emperor by the irony of
fate His grandfather was under the
delusion that he was the viceregent
of Providence es regards Germany; in
this youth the illusion has taken the
form that he is placed by Providence on
the German throne to regulate not only
the affairs of that country, but of the en-
tire world. He Is tightly and unstable
TO an extraordinary degree. His idea
of peace is that it should be German
peace imposed upon Europe. He sell
dom makes q speech without announc-
ing that he will smash" all who de-
cline to accept his views, and at any
moment he is capable of translating his
words into deeds and dragging those
who have been silly enough to become
his allies into war.
The French will never permanently
accept the loss of Alsace and Lorraine,
but they are not likely TO precipitate d
struggle for the reacquisition of these
provinces without the aid of some
other power, and the only power likely
to help them Is Russia. But the car
himself is so strongly disposed to peace
that he would hesitate long before en-
'broiNng Europe in war with France as
his ally. The FTanco-Russian under
standing, however, will probably lead
The German emperor to eschew all
thought of setting out on a march
TO Paris in order to prevent France
from becoming as strong as she former
Iy was;gindeed, the moment when such
an expedition was possible has passed
away. Austria, moreover, although she
may have Joined the triple alliance,
will always discourage a resort to arms,
and in Italy there is growing up so
strong feeling against the country be-
ing party to this alliance, that it is
doubtful whether any. Italian minister
could give effect TO its stipulatiOns, all
the more since the Italians have real /
izeS that they viii obtain no material
support from us. Although, therefore,
armed to the teeth, any continental
power breads war, not exactly knowing
what may come of it. There are, how
ever, SO many questions" in Europe;
there is such rivalry and hatred be-
tween the continental powers-thcre
are so many real causes for difference;
the strain is 50 great. and the cost of
huge ornaments so enormous that it is
difficult to believe that some spark VIII
not before long set this magazine of
combustion on FIRE.