The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-22
LOOKS NOW LIKE WAR.
The Contest, Which Cannot Now be Far
Away. WIN be the Most Terribie In tho
History Of the World.


Europe II. III itttii. n SufitltlIt ItASoU
Tor apprchending that war will ere long
occur. In former ages IL was not the
custom 10 arm great mult.tudes Of men
except with the purpose OF making an
immediate attack. or repulsing an ex-
pcctcd enemy, and, Notwithstanding all
that potentates may protest as to their
desire for peace. 1t is not reasonable
q suppose that European countries are
being converted into armed camps mere
Is TO frightcn each Other. Eighty years
ago an the rest OF Europe was in coali-
ton against France, with the agowed
object Of crushing Napoleon. securing the
blessings OF peace, and enabling the
powers 10 lay aside the sword and dis
yonsc with the greater part Of their arma-
mcnts. The existence OF large standing
armies was then regarded as a grievance.
made necessary by the restless and grasp
lns ambition OF Napoleon. and a grievance
50 intolerable that all the leading and
second rate powers united. with Russia
in the van, TO get rid. at any cost OF
the man who compelled them TO bear
the burden of keeping their subjects I'm
arms. II the nations OF Europe are again
enduring the oppressive and. I'm the case
OF Italy. the intolerable burden OF uni
vcrsal militarism, II cannot be merely
for parade They have armed themselves
because they are looking forward 10 a
general struggle that viii involve the
very existence Of the cOmbatants, and
will repeat on a grander scale the drama
81 1Si4-l1. The numbers engaged In the
coming war will be incomparably greater
than I'm any previous conflict OF the Ia
lions. Even should the struggle be con-
fined TO Russia and France on the one
side and Germany. Austria and Italy
on the other. the total entering the field
would be over ten millions about evenly
divided between the two alliances; but
u IS quite probable that Belgium and
Holland and the Balkan States. and
perhaps England. would not remain neu-
trial. and these would add greatly 10 the
forces engaged. II the slaughter should
happen 90 be ia proportion 20 the numbers
Europe would run with blood. and wars
and plaques ~ the past would be cast far
into the shade by the Armageddon Of the
nineteenth century.
France First In the Field.
Whether the coming war will be pro-
voked at Paris or Berlin. st. Petersburg
or Rome. the probabilities are that France |
viii be first in the field. There is ample
evidence that France has never before
been 80 well prepared for war, in proper |
ton 10 the strength of her antagonists. !
During nearly a quarter Of century or !
peace she has more than recovered from |
The catastrophe OF 1870. and would enter |
upon a European struggle more vigorous
than at any previous time In her history.
II should be remembered that, with all |
its calamitics, the war of 1910 was not
cxhaustinE 10 France, like the long series
Of NapoleOnic wars, which eliminated
at Waterloo. France was stunned, not
crushed by Germany. and when the brief
and terrible encounter was over the
French nation arose. still buoyant and
virlle. and proceeded 20 bind it's wounds.
Those wounds are thoroughly healed, and
= France stronger than ever is ready for
the gage Of battle. The situation in italy
Is more likely TO bring about hosuibes
than any other probable cause. and war
with italy would involve war
with Austria and Germany. The reason
that Italy may at any time become IN
v0lved in conflict with France. is the same
reason that leads the Car Of Russia TO !
re gard the BUlgarians with deadly malevo- |
ioicc. and TO design, as he undoubtedly |
does design. unless his political agents |
grievOusly misrcpresent him, the seizure |
of that principality by Russia. The !
French consider Italy as monstrously I'M
grateful for the aid given by France in |
driving ont Austria, and the Italians have |
toward France that feeling OF jealous |
antagonism which. among nations, as
is often the only return for |
favors bestowed at a critical period. On |
both sides there is great bitterness. ana |
on the French side also great contempt ,
for the military capacity Of the Italians. |
-nfriendiy as the mutual feelings Of |
france and Germany may be, they are |
normal Each power hates and respects |
he other. The relations between France |
and Italy are abnormal. and the unex- |
pccted. therefore, SHOULD not be surpris- |
ing.
Crossing the Alps.
The Alps have never proved a bulwark |
7gainst the invasion of Italy in the past |
my more than the mightier Himalayas |
ave proved n barrier for India, and ii |
Is not likely that any opposition the ltal-
- could offer would prevent power
rui French force from being thrown into |
italy. The Notifications which the ltail- |
ans are constructing 10 defend the passes |
" the Alps are not yet Completed anu
he French would apparently have no Sc
rious difficulty in cffecting a passage
France has its mountains as well as
italy. and there is no crag accessibie 10 |
n Italian that "A Frenchman could not |
be found TO climb. Besides. with the
present development Of the balloon ser
ice I'm the French army, there would
@ nothing to prevent the french, II
rraVely embarrassed by enemies perched
dong the sides Of the passes from send
ng up captive balloons 10 drop dynamite
IN the foe IL would certainly be novel
md startling feature Of warfare If the
italian Aipini shooting Frenchmen from
Jehind rocks and crags, should see an
D.hcr enemy soaring like an eagle In
he air above at a height comparatively
secure from their rifles dropping deadly
explosives among them and blowing them
o pieces among shattered rocks. The
french have certainly not been wasting
hcir time 10 the costly aeronauuc eN-
,erlments which they have been making
OF years past. and there is no doubt
hat balloons will be a much more effec-
i've feature Of warfare in future than
% the past. although even in 1870 they
ere useful FOR purposes Of observation.
obviously. 10 better use could be made
n captive balloon than protecting an
army against an enemy practically Sc
'ure from terrestrial attack. and dealing
Death from points Of vantage along
mountain passes.
Bal oous in the Air.
Indeed. q is more than possible that
lrprises are in store for the public as
% the use Of balloons in war. In Ger
many. France. and Russia the expert
ncnts with military airships have been
attended with much mystery. and II
has more than once been rumOred that
These machines had been brough. 10
such perfection that they could be !
ieerei with success. This. however. is {
improbable but the uses Of the captive
balloon are obvious. and as there is evil !
l-nliy % be 10 humane Limit to methods {