Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-01-19
MILLIONS FOR AN ARMY
Won Caprivps Argument In Favor OF the
Military BiiI.

Military BILL.
BERLIN. Jan. 12.-Chancellor Won Ca
priv last night attended meeting OF
the Reichstag committee of twenty
eight appointed to consider the army
bill, and made an important speech,
setting forth the necessities Tor
the adoption of the bill with
out change or modification. Re
ferring to the relations exist
ing with Germany and Russia, the
Chancellor declared that there was no
enmity between Emperor Wlillam ana
the Car, and neither was there any
enmity between the two governments.
With regard to the relations between
France and Russia, Chancellor Won
Caprlvi said that probably an entente IN
regard to military arrangements existed
between those two countries.
He then referred to the possibility OF
an attack being made upon the nations
composing the triple alliance-Ger-
many, Austria and ltaly-and said that
if such an attack was made, the chief
onslaught of the attacking forces
would doubtless be directed against
Germany as the strongest mem
Der of the triple alliance. Expe-
rience had shown that when
war threatened, it was best for Germany
to take the offensive. To do that would
require that the armies OF the triple
alliance have q considerable numerical
superiority. AS a matter of fact, the
triple alliance was in the minority IN
point of numbers. Germany's long
Eastern frontier especially could
only be protected by employ
ing offensive tactics. An offensive
policy was good policy. 1t meant
short wars with quick victories and last
ing results. All this could be obtained
only by assuming the offensive. Ger
manv's present forces would no longer
suffice against the increased strength of
their might-be opponents. The govern
ment, therefore, would not be able to
take the responsibility of the future de-
Tense of the country unless the arma-
ments were increased.
AS has before been stated, the opposi-
ton to the army bill is in great meas
ure based upon the increased taxation
that will be entailed. The share to be
borne by Prussia of the current extra
expenditure involved by the bill,
amounts to 49,524,517 marks, of which
only As, SIS, S03 marks will be demanded
as first installment. The rest will be
used in the future for the enlargement
non-commissoned officers and other
objects. OF the extraordinary
expenditure. which amounts to $780,
600 marks, 6,SO0,0O0 are to be contrib
uted by Bavaria, and the remaining 6l,-
1000 divided between Prussia, Sax
ony and Wurtemberg. Sixteen and
half million marks may be expended
on barracks for the troops and stabling
for horses. For the clothing and
equipment of the new troops
1885, 900 marks are demaLded; for
the first stock Of horses, $780,
800 marks, and for travelling
expenses, etc, 100000 marks. The
military will be extended as far RS
and school for cadets is to be erected
in hamburg, costing 100000 marks,
for both of which objects first install
ments only are to be demanded in the
budget for 1S9394. The cost Of the pro-
posed extension of the chief school for
cadets in Lichterfelde, near Berlin, in
order to have room for q third battalion,
is not included among the extraordinary
expenditures.
The proposed increase in the strength
Of the army by II ,S57 non-commissioned
officers and 72,037 privates Is to be di-
vided partly amongst new and partly
privates 50,560 are TO be enrolled in
the new formations. The new bat
talions are to contain eight commits
stoned officers. one army doctor, two
officials, thirtv-siX non-commissioned
officers and $50 privates. The new bat
teries OF field artillery will number 700
men, and the existing ones will receive
ten additional men each. Apart from
the estimated increase in the army the
removal of the ''recruten vacanz"-that
is, the period between the dismissal of
one batch of recruits and the enroll
ment of the neXt-is equivalent to
fresh yearly increase in Prussia's con-
tingent alone of $50 non-commissioned
officers and 1926 privates.
The chief object of the alliance with
Italy, he said, was to secure Austria's
southern frontier against France He
did not doubt the efficiency
of the Austrian and Italian
armies, although some weakness in
their organization still existed.
To add force to the arguments ad-
vanced in support OF the measure, the
Chancellor read memoranda made in
1889 by the late field marshal, Count
Won Moltke, in which that great author
ity compared the military strength of
Germany and France. The Chancellor
laid much stress upon pas
sage occurring in the memorada,
in which Won Motke said: 1--WE are
able to ward off an attack from France:
otherwise the German Empire could
not exist. Even if we lose the FIRST bat
tie, we have the Rhine defenses, which
are not equaled in the world, besides
Metz and Strasburg. If, however, two
OF our neighbors united and attacked
us, we would require the assistance of
another power"
The Chancellor's speech was listened
to with the closest attention. His pres
entation of the facts upon which the
government bases it's demands was lucid
and forceful, and will undoubtedly have
much effect upon the report the COM
mlttee will submit to the Reichstag.
WnA2I DIS EAIR AREISE nEArH