New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-13
PLEA FOR THE ARMY BILL.
cuAvcEILOR Won CAPRIvI URGES IT'S
ADOPTION WITHOUT CHANGE.
AWNING TIE REICHsTAG COMMITTEE THE
NECESSITY OF GERMANY TAKING THE
OFFENSIVE IN CASE WAR SHOULD
TUREATEN-VON MOLTKE'S
MEMOR DA,

MEMORANDA.
n.,,in ian. l2-Chanceor Won Caprivi last
.,,bt attended q meeting Of the Reichstag Com
-,;,,ee Of Twenty Eight appointed to consider the
INV bill and made an important speech setting
,or,h the necessity for the adoption of the bin
,.i,hout change or modification Referring to
N. relations existing between Germany and Russia,
che Chancellor declared that there was cnmity
either between Emperor William and the Gar
a, between the two Governments. In regard to
~. relations between France and Russia, he said
that probably an entente in regard 10 military
,,,enrements existed between those two countries.
The Chancellor then referred to the possibility
~ an attack being made upon the nations com
nosnr tie Triple Alliance-Germany, Austria and
i,aly-and said that if such an attack should be
made. the chief onslaught of the attacking forces
,,ould doubtless be directed against Germany, as
N. strongest member of the Triple Alliance En-
,.rience had shown that when war threatened 1t
vas best for Germany to take the offensive. To do
,hat would require that the armies of the Triple
Alliance have a considerable numerical superb
ori,v AZ matter of fact, the Triple Alliance
was in the minority in point of numbers Ger
manvs long eastern frontier especially could be
,rotected only by employing offensive tactics. An
offensive policy was good policy. 1t meant short
worS
An this could be obtained only by assuming the Of
tensiye Germany's present forces would no
LANCER suffice against the increased strength of their
nossible opponents The Government therefore,
could NOT be able to take the responsibility of the
future defence OF the country unless the arina-
pents were increased.
tn. chief object of the alliance with Italy,
continued the speaker. was to secure Austria's
.outhern frontier against France. He did not
doubt the efficiency OF the Austrian and Italian
.ru,.s although some weaknesses in their or
ANIMATION still existed.
To add force TO the arguments advanced in sup
mort of the measure the Chancellor read memoranda
msda in 1889 by Field-Nlarsha Count Won Moltke
In which that great authority compared the mil
itary strength of Germany with that of France
The Chancellor laid much stress upon passage
occurring in the memoranda. in which Won Moitke
said: We are able 10 ward of an attack from
France: otherwise the German Empire could not
exist Even il we lose the first battle, we have
the Rhine defences which are not cQuallcd in
the world. besides Metz and Strasburg If, how
ever two Of our neishbors united and attacked
US, we would require the assistance Of another
Pswer.''
In the course of his speech. Chancellor Won
Caprivi male an extended rcfcrerce TO the
internal condition of France. That country, he
said was in a state of ferment Though there
was no statesman in that country at the present
moment Of such prominence as to be likely. 10
seize power the probability Of a dictatorship
was not TO b. excluded from German calculations
Speaking Of the renewal OF the Triple Alliance
upon the expiration of tho present treaties, the
Chancellor said that renewal. though hoped
for. was not absolutely certain.
The Chsncelors speech Was listened TO with
the closes. attention. His presentation Of the
iacts upon which tire Cover ment bases It's de-
mands wa lucid ard ioiccful. and will I'M
doubtedH have much effect upon the report the
committee will submit TO the Rcichstas.