The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-01-20
WAR OF THE FUTURE.
Tho German Governments Reasons
for tho New Military Bill.

Tho German Governments Reasons
for tho New Military Bill.
An article in the 1fllitar Wochenblatt,
under the head Of tho "War OF the Fu-
turc," presents the Governments argu-
ments for the new Military bill: "No ono
expects that any part OF tn" A".s->,
:. .: ::....sari.u nrmy Will help M on oiir west
front, for Ia the event OF war facing east
and west Austria Hungary must concen-
tratc alI her forces on the east front.
italy has very extended coast line,
which her railroads absolutely follow.
A number OF her largest cities lie on or
close to the sea, and arc open TO attack
by hostile feet. II Is quite possible
that she might be compelled to keep
back considerable for their defence, rs
her feet alone is not strong enough to
hold it's own against the French Mcdi-
tcrrancan fleet. But, allowing for the
most favorable contingencies, and that
her army can Immediately, upon mobili.
zntion, take the field in the north, how
can it assist us on our west frontl A
direct invasion OF French territory across
the Alps would doubtless assist us most
materially by compelling the French to
divide their forces. But to cross the Alps
is no easy task, and could only be safely
undertaken il the command of the seas
were secured, and this Italy cannot he
assumed to possess Besides, il would
be long and tedious operation. AS n
| means Of italian co operation on our
| west front n portion Of the Italian army
would therefore have to be sent across
the Tyrol to join hands with us on our
western frontier. But this operation
would have to be carried out on II sim
gle line of railway, in many respects
unadaptcd for the purpose, and would
take mt any rate 80 much time that before
1t was accomplished the decisive blows
would have been struck elsewhere. Ger
many can only bring numerical supcri-
Ority To bear against the French 10y
massing the whole Of her forces on her
front. In tho case of u war with two
fronts. this is simply out of the question.
The Russian army is SO superior to that
Of Austria Hungary TINT Germany must
put mp part OF her own army on her
eastern frontier, and then, far from be
ing numerically superior to the French,
we should be inferior to them even al
lowing for one c.siXth of their forces be.
ing immObiliZcd on the Italian frontier.
Even III events Mt first took the same
shape NJ IN 1870, few defeats in the
field would no longor lay the interior of
France open to invasion. The French
would retire behind their double line OF
fortrcsses and intrcnChcd camps to await
there the mobilization of their second
lighting line. TO attempt to advance
without having taken some of these
fortrcsscs would be sheer impossibihty,
for without them we should not have
command of single railway line, and
without railway line We could not
transport the provisions and ammunition
upon which lnrgc army is nowadays
more than ever dependent. 1t is, there.
fore, inconccivablc that c!cn under
favorable conditions any part Of our
western forces could be released ut an
early date after the outbreak Of hostil-
tiles for operations against Russia"