The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-13
CAPRIVI'S WAR VIEWS.
oFFENsIvE TACTICS FAVORED By
THE CHANCELLOR

The Idea Expressed in a Speech in
In Behalf of the Army Bill Be-
fore tie ReichstaR's Special Com.
mittee-Ihs Armies of the Allies
Numerically Weaker Than Those OF
Their Foes.
BEBLIN, Jan. 12.-Chancellor Won Ca
privi last night attended a meeting Of thu
Reichstag committee of twenty-eight, ap-
pointed 70 consider the army bill. and made
an important speech setting forth the ne-
cessity for the adoption Of the bill without
change or modification. Referring 70 the
relations existing between Germany and
Russia, the chancellor declared that there
was no enmity between the Emperor Will
lam and the czar, and neither was there
any enmitY between the two governments.
FRANCE AND RUSSIA.
With regard to che relations between
France and Russia, Chancellor Won Caprivl
said that probably an entente In regard TO
military arrangements existed between the
two countries He then referred TO the pcs
sibility of an attack being made upon the
nations composing the triple alliance
Germany, Austria aud Italy And said thai
IL such an attack was made the chief on
slaught of the attacking forces would doubt-
leso be directed against Germany, Ms the
strongest member of the triple alliance.
Experience had shown that when war
threatened it was best for Germany to take
the offensive.
THE ALLIES IN MINORITY
To do that would require that the armies
Of the triple alliance have considerable
numerical superiority. As a matter OF
fact the triple alliance was Ia tts
minority in point Of numbers Gernany's
long eastern frontier especially could only
be protected by employing offensive tactics.
An offensive policy was good policy.
Ii means short wars with QUICK
victories and lasting results. All this could
be obtained only by assuming the offensive.
Germany'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 defense OF
the country unless the armaments were in
creased.
THE ALLIANCE WITH ITALY.
The chief object OF the alliance with
Italy, ne said, was to secure Austrias
southern frontier against France. He did
| not doubt the efficiency Of the Austrian
| and Italian armies, although some weak.
ness in their organization still existed.
To add force 30 the arguments advanced
| In support OF the measure, the chanceIIor
read memoranda made In 1889 by the late
COAhb FOh baOAkhcs III WulCu tuhb kEshb hu-
thority compared the military strength OF
Germany and France. The chancellor
laid much stress upon a passage ocs
| curing in the memoranda, In which
Count Won Moltke said: "We are
able to ward an attack from France; other
wise the German empire could not exist!
Even il we lose the first BATTLE we have the
Rhine defenses, which are not eQualed In
the world, besides Metz and Strasburg. II.
however. our neighbors united and attacked
us, we would require the assistance Of an
other power"
FRANCES INTERNAL CONDITION.
| In the course Of his speech Chancellor
Won Oaprivi made an extended reference 20
the internal condition of France. That
| country, he said, was in 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
be excluded from German calculations.
Speaking of the renewal OF the triple alli-
ance upon the expiration OF the present.
treaties, the chancellor said that renewal.
though hoped for, was not absolutely
| cartain