Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-12-12
WAR IN EUROPE.
The Present Armed Peace Cannot
 Long Endure.
In the Opinion of Noted Press Corrs- spondent the German Emper or is Q Menace The Gener-
 al Outlook.

al Outlook.
 Whether there will speedily be wal in Europe is a 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 conti- mental powers must reduce their forces or they will soon, one and all, be ruined. The richest country is France, but there uthe taxation is enormous. Both Austria and Germany are compar- atively poor; Russia's credit is only maintained by the French being ready to buy it's bonds; Italy is practically bankrupt already, and notwithstand- ing this, all 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 proba bilty 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
 
 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 eternally 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- izcd, 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 power 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 the disintegration of the new German em- pire.
 The most dangerous man to the Flu ropcan peace is the German emperor He is crack l-brained Prussian lieuten- ant, and an emperor by the irony of fate. His grandfather was under the delusion that he was the viceregent of Providence as 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 flighty and unstable to an extraordinary degree. His idea of peace is that it should be q 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 q 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 cza1 himself is so strongly disposed to peace | that he would hesitate long before em- | broiling Europe in war with France as | his ally. The Franco-RussiaM under 1 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 l from becoming as strong as she former | ly was; indeed, the moment when such an expedition was possible has passed away. Austria, moreover, although she may have joined the triple alliance, will always discourage 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 l could give effect to its stipulations, all ! the more since the Italians have real ized that they will obtain no material support from us. Although, therefore. armed to the teeth, any continental power threads war, not exactly knowing what may come of it. There are, how | ever, TO many "questions" in Europe; there is such rivalry and hatred be- tween the continental powers-there are so many real causes for difference; | the strain is so great, and the cost ot l huge armamentS so enormous that it is l difficult to believe that some spark will not before long set this magazine ot | combustion on fire.
 Condemned to Death Thrice.
 Hans Nielsen, of Copenhagen, has had l the probably uniQue experience O1