The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-19
THE SITUATION IN GERMANY.

The political situation in Germany is in
teresting, and it may become critical.
Emperor William favors the bill for the
Prince Bismarck condemns the bill as need
less. The reasons assigned tor the new
military law are that i'll the opinion of
German officers France has a better army
and is better prepared for war today than
Germany. In France the army on peace
footing numbers $4,000 men, and she will
have in twenty-five years 1853, 900 trained
soldiers; while in Russia, excluding the
forces employed in Asia, the peace estab-
iishment is 1000 men, and her army in
twenty-three years will include 4, 900 900.
In France, too, vast intrenched camps
have been established at Lille. Maubeuge,
Besancon, Belfort, Verdun and other
points. The forts around these places
completely shelter them from lombard
ment. Moreover, the railroads and all i'm
portant routes are also supplied with forts.
The fact that France and her ally,
Russia, are united and better prepared to
make war or resist attack than Germany
Is necessary TO raise her army in peace TO
492, 900 men, excluding officers, and to in
crease the number annually recruited to
235,000 men who, however, will serve only
Two years. BY these changes in her re-
cruiting system Germany will have at her
disposal in twenty-five years 4,i09, 900
drilled soldiers. The increased annual
outlay will be $4,000, 900, besides a pre-
liminary disbursement of ST., 100000. The
extra expenditures will have to be met by
new taxes, and mainly by increasing the
customs duties and internal revenue i'm
post on tobacco.
Bismarck believes that the next contest
between France and Germany will be set
tied by armies of from 100, 900 to 200, 900
men, and that. consequently. the addi-
tional conscripts demanded by Caprivi are
superfuoUs.
Bismark does not believe that Russia has
vet pledged herself 10 Cooperate with
France; and he bel ewes that no such
pledge would ever be given if Germany
would let the car have his way III the
Balkan peninsula.
The Polish members Of the relchstas.
before which the army bill will come on
Thursday next, are certain to oppose it; so
are the Radicals, the AIsace-L Lorraine
members and most of the National Liber-
ais. The Conservatives and Imperi-
aiists will support the bill, and its
fate depends on the action OF the
German Clericals or Catholic members
constituting the party OF the center
Some of these Catholics will support the
bill. but those from Bavaria and the other
South German states are hostile TO the
project. In the bundestrath. or German
federal senate. Bavaria, Wurtemberg and
uesse were pronounced against the bill.
The Catholic, or Clerical party in the
German re!chstac. which corresponds 10
our house Of representatives. holds the
whip hand over the government whenever
i chooses 10 use its opportunity. When
Bismarck Was in power he was only able
TO carry an extension OF the seven year
provision Tor the army Ill the face Of the
Catholic resistance organized by Windt-
horst through invoking the personal inter-
position O; Leo XIII. There is now rea-
son to app-ehend that the pope's inhu-
ence over the German Catholics Will be ex-
erted III 4 directly opposite way.
The pope has recently declared his
friendship for the Freach republic and
is therefore naturally reluctant TO use his