Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-29
THE LORRAINE MANEUVERS.
France Not Excited Over the Evolutions of
German Troops.
Comment ON the Presence of the
Prince of NapIes-The Russian
Fleet to Visit Toulon.
Correspondence of The E.ening Star


vicinity of the once French fortress of
Metz. or that the Germans looked with
equanimity upon the enthusiastic reception
or President Carnot at Nancy last year by
what NJ Jacques St. Cere describes as "a
Few athletic associates According to the
view of that accomplished ground and lofty
tumbler, In Fridays Figaro, the kaiser
must have been deeply impressed by the
contrast between the calmness with which
the French people endured the presence of
a large hostile force so near the 4 orders
and the fury-that is his word-whicn reign
ed throughout the empire on the previous
occasion He hopes. further, that Germany
will at length learn from these circum-
stances that the sole desire of France is for
peace. and that warlike plans and agrees
sive purposes are cherished only on this side
or the boundary line. u. Jacques St. Cere
bids fair to develop. in time, into bril-
liant q humorist as Prince Bismarck him.
self.
II must be admitted, however, that the
comments Of the more respectable among
the French journals on tine operations in
Lorraine were not sharp as they were ex-
pected To be, and that they treated the
Kaiser personally with degree of consid-
Grafton quite at variance with their usual
methods The point of both French and
RUSSIAN criticism was directed against the
presence of the Italian heir-dpparent, which
they regarded as evincing IA shameless
and which they interpreted. perhaps not
without reason, Italy's final answer to
the alleged efforts of France TO cultivate
friendly relations with the peninsular king
dom. and as an evidence of her purpose to
throw herself without reserve into the arms
of her northern ally. The nature of these
co-called efforts TO establish a more in
Innate union between the two sister
tons" Of the south Is too well understood
to require detailed explanation here.
The So-CaIIed Efforts.
They consisted chiefly In attempts to de-
tach Italy from the triple alliance in mis-
leading and betraying her with regard to
French aims in Tunis. in describing King
Humbert as mere puppet in the hands of
the German emperor. and in seizing every
occasion to load the italian government and
people with ridicule and reproach. If they
mad been designed to create discOrd instead
OF harmony they could not have been better
adapted to their purpose. Nevertheless
there was considerable party in Italy
which was opposed TO the projected visit of
the Prince of Naples TO Metz. and it might
not have taken place but for the lamentable
anair of AiSues-Mortes. which occurred
while the matter was under discussion
Ihat at once Silenced all objections, and
the kaise-'s Invitation was accepted A
similar question arose four years ago, when
IL was proposed that King Humbert should
accompany the kaiser ON his visit to the
reichsland- IL was then decided in the
negative, on grounds upon which an inter-
eStinS light Is thrown by a recent article in
the Munich Allgemeine Zeitung-commonly
believed to be one of Prince Bismarck S
organs, though he lately denied in a.
speech at kissingen. that he had any organ
In 1879 lie triple alliance was nearing the
prescribed term of its existence, and il was
very desirable that IL should be renewed: il
was important also that in any contest
which might arise in the future the moral
as wen as the legal. right should appear to
be on the side of Germany. so that no
foreign power. and especially Russia which
was already exhibiting symptoms of a lean
Ing toward France, should be able to find
fault; therefore all steps adapted either to
encourage the enemies of the dreibund in
Italy. or to wound the susceptabilities OF
France, were to be carefully avoided Since
then. proceeds the article. the aspect of af-
fairs has altogether changed; the triple
alliance has been renewed, the Russo
French combination. which the former
chancellor. SO long as he remained in office,
was able to prevent, is accomplished
fact. and the visit of the Prince of Naples
to Metz Is simply an open recognition of
conditions long known to exist 1t might
be added that the commercial treaties of
1881 have cemented still more closely the
relations between the powers of the drei-
bund. and rendered its renewal in 1898 a
matter about which very little doubt need
be entertained. for the present, at all
events.
The Maneuvers Satisfactory.
That the Lorraine maneuvers were a sat
the troops engaged. in all departments of
the service. Is apparent from the evident
qualification with which the kaiser in his
public addresses. spoke of the results; for
whatever opinion may be entertained Of his
capacity as a leader of armies which let
us hope. he may never have opportunity
TO prove. there can be no doubt of his thor
oush competency as military critic. Dur
ing the first three days he took no active
part IN the conflict. but occupied the impair
tial position of supreme arbiter; on the last
day. however, he assumed personal COM
mand of the army of defense. and succeeded
In driving the attacking force from the
positions which they had previously won.
The military correspondents of the German
press unite In testifying that this result was
due not to any considerations of difference
10 the sovereign on the part of the supposed
invaders. but to the skillful combinations of
the kaiser himself. The operations how
ever. appear to have developed degree of
weakness in the defenses of the western ap-
proaches to Metz. and 1t is not improbable
that one Of their consequences may be the
erection of additional works between the
city and the frontier.
i observe in the American papers a state
ment credited to the New York Herald that
the kaiser. In view OF certain reports made
to him by the secret police, refused to al
low the military attache of the French en-
bassy In Berlin to witness the maneuvers
This statement Is gam aus der Luft ge-
grifen''-caught out of the air L think II
must be a product OF the fertile fancy of
the Herald's versatile but most untrust-
worthy correspondent. NJ. ST. Cere 1t was
by the order of his own government that
Col Meunier remained in Berlin For their
knowledge OF the operations about Metz
the French papers preferred to rely upon a
host of newspaper correspondents and army
officers disguised in civilian dress.
The Visit of the Russian Fleet
The arrival of the Russian fleet In Toulon,
at first enormously supposed 70 be fmmedf-
ately impending. is now fixed for the 18th
of October. The French have therefore been
obliged to abandon their idea that il was
THE tsar's answer to the kaiser's presence
In Metz. and to accept 1t for what il really
fs-a return OF the visit OF the French
squadron to Cronstadt two years and four
months ago That Is rather a long interval
for the exchange of international court
estes: considerably longer than elapsed be-
tween the kaisers visit to the tsar at
Narva IN August, 1880. and the tsar's re-
turn visit to the kaiser at Kiel in June 1892
but while the tsar's delay in the latter case
was exploited by the French press as
fnduoitsble evidence of his hostility to Ger
many. no corresponding deduction has been
drawn from II in the former What the out
come Of the naval meeting at Toulon NAV
be II Is. OF course. impossible to say; but IL
IS not unlikely that the results Of the recent
French elections. which seem to assure IL
not the continuance OF the present ministry
IN power. at least the stability of the gov
eminent under its republican form NAV
n Nl-