The morning call., 1893-02-26
WAR RUMORS AND FIGURES.
France and Russia Considered as the
TerrorS of Europe.

The continued increase Of the war rumors
in Europe gives room for the consideration
Of few facts and figures. Although the
North German Gazette declares that in the
judgment Of high official circles there is no
cause for alarm, at least for the present"
the concentration Of troops in Alsace and
Lorraine is daily reported, and appeals In all
shapes and forms pointing ont tile dangers
which threaten the Fatherlapd and the
necessity for the passage of the new army
bill are found IN German journals, pamph-
let's and reviews and signed by men OF high
standing in the empire. One of these appeals
comes from General Won der GoltZ, we'll
known writer on military affairs. In the
Deutsche Rundschau he says that France
with her 80 100000 OF inhabitants against
Germany's 100000. possesses In men. off,
GERS. artillery and horses an army consider
ably stronger than that of Germany. Every
year under the new military laws she has
been adding 1900 men to that army. aud 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 rather gloomy view OF
the future OF his country, dwelling upon the
fact that the French army in 1889 was eX-
actly five times rs strong as her army of
1870. and that it must soon become seven
times as strong.
In addition 10 the increase of the forces in
Alsace-Lorraine, We are told that Mayence
The MayeDce- Sirasburg line OF f0rtifca-
tions 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 purpose of
facilitating the rapid transport Of troops
from Southern Germany into Upper Alsace.
Moreover. Mayence forms the principal
basis of supplies for the German armies OF
the left OF the Rhine, and, notwithstanding
its enormous strength. 1t Is now decided TO
make 1t stronger, IN view OF the extraor-
nary growth of the French forces.
According to the most careful estimates
so far made. Russia on the outbreak Of hos
tilties could put 10 line twenty-five army
corps which. added to the French forces,
make all told forty-seven army corps. The
army corps of the Triple Alliance are as
follows: Germany, 90; Austria, 10; Italy.
10. Total. AZ. Consequently France and
Russia have four army corps more than the
Triple Alliance. Even under the new
military law and the application OF the two
years service in all its force. the Triple AL
lance would still be numerically inferior to
France and Russia. To be sure 1t may be
that the German troops and the German
generals and officers are vastly superior TO
the French and the Russians but nobody
can say that Tor q certainty, ana General
Won der Goliz expressed grave doubts
upon the subject. Unfortunately the
thing remains to be tested. But
tile most serious thing Of all In the
present military situation Of Europe Is that
IN case OF war this spring or summer-and
the possibility of it seems by no means re-
mote--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 and
Ausfrians could come to the assistance OF
their principal ally. Indeed. the first great
shocks of the war might be- decisive: and
should the Germans be defeated Ia the be-
ginning. IL is feared that the Italians and
Austrians. might, after all. be disposed to
leave her in the lurch. However, II the
German troops should be fortunate enough
10 be commanded by a great general and
the French and Russians sufficiently I'M
lucky enough TO be without one, the advan-
tage Of numerical superiority would be con-
siderably diminished.