The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-05
WAR RUMORs AND FIGURES.
What Leading European Nations Gould DO
Should Hostilities Break Out.

The continued increase Of the var ru-
mors in Europe gives room for the con-
sideratlon Of few facts and figures Al
though the North German Gazette de-
cares that in the judgment Of high Off
cial circles there is no cause for alarm, at
least for the present" the concentration
6f troops in Alsace and Lorraine - taily
reported. and appeals in all shapes and
forms pointing out the dangers which
threaten the Fatherland and the necessity
for the passage of the new army bill are
found In German journals, pamphlets, ana
reviews. and often signed by men OF high
standing in the Empire. One OF shsse APP
peals comes from Gen. Won der Goltz. a
well-kncwn writer on military affairs.
In the Deutsche Rurdschau he says
that France, with her 100000 of inhrh-
itants against Germany's 100000 pos
sesses In men, ofIlc ers. artillery. and
horses an army considerably stronger than
that of Germany. Every year under the
new military laws she has been adding
1900 men TO that army, and in a very
short time she will be able TO put into the
field half a million OF trained soldiers
more than Germany can boast OF to-day.
He takes a rather gloomy view of the fu-
ture Of his country, dwelling upon the fact
that the French army in 1889 was exactly
five times as strong as her army In 1870,
and that IL must soon become seven times
as strong.
In addition TO the increase OF the forces
in Alsace-Lorraine, we are told that May
ence is to be converted into an intrenched
camp. The Mayence-Strasburg line OF for
tifcat!ons is TO be extended toward Bale
with the view of covering the numerous
railway bridges across the Rhine. These
bridges were built expressly for the pur-
pose OF facilitating the rapid trans
port Of troops from Southern Germany
into Upper Alsace. Moreover. Mayence
forms the principal basis of supplies for
the German armies on the left Of the
Rhine. and, Notwithstanding its enormous
strength, it is now decided to make 1t still
stronger, in view Of the extraordinary
growth OF the French forces.
According to the most careful estimates
so far made by the New York Sun, Russia
en- the outbreak CT hostilitieS could put in
line twenty-five army corps. which, added
to the French forces. make. all told. forty
seven army corps. The army corps of he
triple alliance are as follows: Germany.
twenty; Austria, thirteen; Italy, ten; to-
tai, forty-three. Consequently, France
and Russia have four army corps more
than the triple alliance. Even under .he
new military law and the application CT
the two years service in all its force. the
alliance would still be numerically infe-
rior to France and Russia.
To be sure 1t may be that the German
troops and German generals and officers
are vastly superior 10 the French and the
Russians. but nobody can say that for a
certainty, and Gen. Won der Goltz ex-
presses grave doubts upon the subject.
Unfortunately the thing remains 10 be
tested. But The most serious thing Of I'LL
In the present military situation Of Europe
Is that In case OF war this spring or sum-
mer-and the possibility OF II seems by 10
means remote-the bulk OF the forty-seven
French and Russian army corps could be
hurled against the twenty German corps,
and the first and most terrific blows Of the
contest squarely delivered before the
Italians or Austrians could come to the
assistance OF their principal ally.
Indeed. the first great shocks Of the war
might be decisive; and should the Ger
mans be defeated In the beginning Il II
feared that the Italians and Austrians
mixhk Altar all b dianaaed to leave her