The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-01
THE GERMAN cIMp Ar mALMED1.
~. Hearings On the Quest on or BeIaiuu,'s
NentIelIly AND Her Power. Of ncIcnrr.


| Neutrality and Her Powers OF Defence,
WtsHrNGToN Nov. 30 students OF militar,
ahalrs anil Of international politics have OBJ
served with interest the excitement stirred M
IN france by the preparations OF Emperol
| william to establish great intrcnched camt
at Mamcdy on tho Belgian frontier. The
lands needed for the purpose arc report cd tc
J have been already seized. and the Eighth
/ CORPS is said to be already engaged in the
! construction work u the camp.
| While Germany is acting entirely within her
| rights In this cnterutisc It has OF coutse eS-
| cited various surmises. from the situation oil
| tho camp. close to Belgium. The old theory is
/ naturally revived that. in case OF war with
| France Germany might try to march through
Belgium. In order to turn the flank Of the
French frontier Notifications. that could only
be carried at great loss. II carried at all. Tho
new camp may TO for man ruvring and eXer-
else purposes bat tho impression that IL may
take on permanent quality naturally starts
the other question as to what sort OF protsc-
tion the supro sod neutrality OF Belgium really
gives her Al any rate. no shall perhaps have
crop OF war runors like those Of six or aeven
years age. which resulted from German ac-
tivity OH the French frontier
Tho site Of tho German camp. according to
ono despatch from tho Belgian Minister OF
War Brialmont. to tho Belgian Minister at
Paris. has not yet been dcci ted: but this state.
nent seems To be- modified by another nttrih-
utcd to him. that the peasants in the Malmedy
district are ilnding their lands taken from
thom Tor the use OF the camp. IL also appears
that artillery is going into tho region. proceeds
ing, according to ono account from Ehren.
breltstcin. Malmedv is close upon the Belgian
liuo. little southeast OF spa
The question. thcsc'orc. arises ne to the re-
linnco which Belgium has in its neutral posi-.
ton against invasion. The Acknowledgement
Of its Independence in 1880 was followed the
next year by the treaty Of London. in which
IT'S neutrality was guaranteed by France, Great
Britain. Austria. Russia, and Prussia. In 1890
another treaty. also signed at London. re-
peatod this guarantee. Nevertheless. there
was an uneasy feeling during the latter years
OF NAPOLEON Ill, lest no should annex belgium
in sDite VI the treaty OF 1879 while during the
war OF 1870 the little kingdom found it nee
essary 10 despatch a. army Of observation to
her frontier Perhaps still more suggestive Is |
the tact that Lord Granville at the: time
sought and obtained an additional guarantee |
of Belgian neutrality from France and thu |
North German Confederation. This very fact |
has teen used as Hn srgum ent that the i've.
fold guarantee al 1890 had become inopnre |
tive, since otherwise it would not havc been
necessary To make u special treaty on the same
subject. to terminate Twelve months after tho
OF any treaty Of peace between the
This argument. hDwaver seems to he faIIa
'inus; since the special treaty OF 1870 ex-
we've meSi5Ss tb hs a, the Of the
oendenco ana neutrality Of Belctum will CON
niue. as regards the high contracting powers.
% fepose IA hitherto on article Gf the Quin- |
upls treaty of the ,l lHth q APRIL 1s@, On
PROVISIONS OF a treaty OF similar date con.
luded between Belgium and the Netherlands
yerc to have the. same force and value AS II
hey were tcXtualiy inserted in tho present
rt s ana mat 'ney are ny; placed under the
he provisions, one OF them /, found to be that
Belgium will form an indepen' cut and PER-
etna,ly neutral STATE, Thus tins guarantee
Gems prepostet Gus to say that the special
Mantse , 1t l6fY ne. ns.Tecn two Of the sub
really emphasized The earlier agreement
n their part.
r"n"hcd camp at Malmedy cxcitcs popular
ions shows II di-trust in the Validity
Tho treaty Of 1872 To preserve Relglan neu-
hlIiy. IL ~ recognized that military Deces-
ny sometimes makes l,ttlo account ui diDlo-
'a,tc engagements; and also that there arc
ays oi Insisting that ancient treaties have
cen rendered nugatory by tho acts Of those
no took nart ~ mem. Itwiil be roremLcrsd
Is fnmous, pamphlet called " Belgium an, the
ext VAR took tn" rather startling ground =
lat the neutrality Of tn" king ION was 81 jittIc
'surcd, and her own ueienCrS were 20 inada-
nate that her true policy In the case OF tina
itbreak Of war between France and Germany J
'!liE"rvn;s would offer the better terms The
81 cannon shot he said in an interview !
will he sufcent to dlspel NIL the Illusions OF !
o Belgian rcopIe. II is we'll known that our !
my. deprived as II is of the Indispensable y
om"nts for rapid mobilization. could not be !
my 20 hGht, until long alter the country j
uId hc invaded. occupied. and travrrsed. .
v re resistinG force CONSISTS. at the maximum. .
100000 men, including the militia 10 hold =
ltwerp with the development given TO tho y
rtllcations OF that place We Will need at least =
900 men. without counting the garrisons "
cessary at Iioge Namur, and other places ~
hat. them would remain for US o offer battle "
III Ct any given polntT'' He proceeded to s a
vs. halt million men between AerschOt ami a.
~ on Belgian territory. and how the French ~
llt also occupy n line. "
lie solution. however which the Delpian I ~
Nernmont resorlel to was Of another sort, | ~
~ dozen years ago ". FrSre- Orban dur
, the prolonged debates on Belgian defence q,
,lar"d his belief that Eng and could be re- ~
! upon, as IN 1870 20 protect Belgian nen- pl
lity. But tho prevailing opinion was that | w
.glum must do something Tor self protec- ~
r. s Even "my N ga OF some greater bower III
Denmark also showed her how little re- 10
nee small power might have on the help m
use through which tho railroad runs from VI
German TO tho french frontier This is ga
line that protects Brussels. which lies be- ha
q H. ana antwerp and Client still further ~.
%. The four great points on the Mouse -,
Inning near the French frontier are Char Oh
y. Nanur Lirge, and Maestricht. ~,
lection Of the main part OF Belgium leaves 20
side and 20 the south n con siderable area isa
Seen the Luxembourg and French frontier ~ ".
NEEDY u situated only short distance from ioI
Mouse line. being southeast 81 LIage =
, in addition, would he apparantly as good An
nint ~ could he selected for marching ia
.G nrs sS9hsT noE ama area do
rest route TO the French frontier gu