The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-19

in shse last rs.chstag. The Socialists are
| solid against the army cs!l. and the pres
ens prospect is tina; even with the con-
cessinn OF the amendment rejected By
Emg.sror William in May the army bill
will fail Of passage in the new reichstas-
This army ball proposes to increase the
Geraaaa standing army from Its present
Eenres of sss5 90 rueu TO a total OF 900
and ITS nufnoer Of batteries from 434 10
43i The German army on 3 war footing
under the present laws viii be 1850 90,
white under the provisions Of the army
ball !ihe German army on q war footing
would be eventually 100 go strong. and
the I umerical disparity between the COM
binea armies OF France and Russia and
,hoss Of Germany, Ausiria-Hungary. and
I.alx would he lessened, while Germany
would be q. Ieas. on the same numerical
footeag in war with France and Russia.
II. argauen; against the bill Is the de-
NAL s,f its necessity. The opposition deny
that:there is any reasonable ground for
the expectation that Germany will be in
volv.d in war which will obiige her TO
fight: on two fronts at the same time, bat
even. If such war should take place Ger
many does not need in advance Of its out
break so enormous peace footing as this
army bill would compel. Then there is
the srgument of increased taxation. Since
1917 Germany has spent 81. 80. COZ, 90 on
her :army and navy. The unamended
srmy bill calls for $1,000. go more an
uu.l: % srd az Csso assl Il, a tu,nr arm, The
cost ,f new barracks for the additional 3d.
$50 rsen and the increase Of pensions will
amount TO hardly less than rs Oo0. 600
overland above the sums apparent in the
face of the bill. To this statement the
government has made no reply.
The opposition to the army bill IN the
Geriiian parliament il no: likely to be
weakened by the growing signs in both
Italy and Austria Of discomfort with the
tripis alliance and the burden OF taxation
that il imposes on the people of these
countries. The other day Count Kalnoky.
the Austro-Hungarian minister of foreign
atfsigs, in . public speech declared that
there was no longer any necessity for un-
usuas exer,ions on the part of any of the
greatipoxers to increase and perfect their
armament. Austria and Russia were rap
idly 'ioming to be on the test Of terms.
kaInSky further said that the disposition
OF FRINGE was much more peaceful than
it understood to be in Germany, and
that Che time had come, therefore, when il
was lsafe to arrest the process Of
enlarsing the great standing armies.
So fa3 rs Austria is concerned, it is clear
that yhe is not disposed to increase her
military burdens under pressure Of the
German apprehension OF gigantic war.
Emperor William will hardly get his par
liameat to add millions to the present tax
burdsn while Austria, his ally. il disposed
to laugh at the prospect of war and to
count: on . long peace with both Russia
and France. Italy has almost bankrupted
herself trying to carry the military burden
which the triple alliance compact imposes
upon her government. Caralotti, the
ieadei of the Italian radicals in the cham
Der ot,deputies, is an avowed enemy of the
triples alliance. which he denounces as
not OILY the source Of ltaly's financial ex-
haustson, but as the one obstacle to COM
plete italian unity. It is this triple ALI.
ancs that obliges Italy to sustain Austrian
occupation of Trieste and Trent, which are
Italian in their population. and whose
restorh tion to Italy is the desire Of the
Radical party in Italian politics.
Theschances are that tho triple alliance
will bleak of its own weight France is
the nitural friend and ally of Italy. while
Austria Is the hereditary enemy OF Italy.
Austria Is the natural enemy OF Prussian
supremacy in Germany and has not for.
| gotten Sadowa. aud Austria Is the hered-
itary sfriend rather than the enemy of
Russia Russia and Austria were allie.
against Frederick the Great and against
the Turks: they were allies against Napo-
leon, tnd Austria. il permitted to extend
her dSminions south TO the Gulf Of Salon
| lea. could well afford TO let Russia occupy
| Cons';antinoplc. The triple alliance is I'M
| naturil. Is against the interests OF Austria
and iSaly, is feariuliy expensive. A great
braips Bismarck. built IL. and il will take
| great brain TO much longer preserve il.
| Germany greatly profits By the triple alli-
ance. Ebut Austria could make better terms
! with :Russia, and Itaty with France. IL
| lookj very much as If Germany might be
cailcy upon some day unexpectedly TO
| hghe over her great battle with France,
and !dght II without any help from Austria
or Italy, the rest of Europe looking on
witty, something Of the judicial fairness or
Indifference which made the woman cry.
'ts, /, husband 20 il bear"