The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-12-27
THE PEACE OF EUROPE

4hiIfltdINSu apparently OuIy Dy tH0
Exhibition of Overwhelming Force.
The autumnal military in
Europe this year, says the Youths Com
panion, doubtless marked the highest
attainment in the science of war that
h world has ever seen. Europe has
never before been so thoroughly pre-;
pared for Il general war. Nor does
military development show any sign
of suspension; new military inventions
are continually being met with newer
mes to combat and cancel them. /!
IN the present year, for instance.
there has been Il marked development
in the science OF military ballOoning,
and the resulting problem of construct
ing cannon which shall be effective in
reaching and destroying an enemy's
balloons is occupying the attention of
experts in gunnery.
Meantime there are no outward indi-
cations that the peace of Europe will
0 o be disturbed. Indeed, during a
great part of this year. the prospect Of
war has seemed to be receding. In no
year since the war between France
and Germany in 1S70-71 has the gen
eral condition of Europe been more
peaceful. =.
Much mischief would have to be done.
however, to overthrow the good effect
of the recent public declaration Oh the
part of the governments of Russia and
Germany. the sincerity Of which has not
been doubted.
There have been, moreover, signs in
all quarters that the princes and
statesmen OF Europe are keenly ware
of the frightful responsibility of pro-
voking or melting war under the pres
eGt destructive conditions. 1t is not to
be supposed that any %pOtentate or
statesman favOrs or desires Il warlike
declaration.
More than that, the tendency Of
popular feeling is toward peace. 1t is
well known, and avowed openly. that
the French people look forward to Il
war with Germany for the re-cOnquest
of Alsace and Lorraine as Il necessity
of the future; but certain recent incl
dents Indicate that neither Frenchmen
nor Germans are in haste for blood
shed between the two countries.
On the French and German frontier
there have been recently friendly
meetings of French and German
troops. One of these was in cOnnec-
tiOn with the transfer Of the remains
Of some of the German dead of the war
of 1870 from French to German soil.
IN tbiS nasoSinn tho ,nmoinc of tho Cor
man dead were escorted to the frontier
by the French with military hOnOrs,
and the men Of the two armies fratern-
lied with apparent complete friendli-
ness. b
On the occasion of another and more
recent meeting on the frontier, between
French and German soldiers, the Ger
mans raised in French the shout of
"BOnjour, camerades!' or "GoOd day,
comrades!" and the French responded,
the soldiers of the two armies imme-
diately engaging in hearty handshak-
mig.
Such incidents must not be taken as
indicating too much, but they are n
sign among many of the popular weari-
ness of the continual threatening of
war. 1t is probable that the day has
gone by when the warlike ~provocations
raised by III ambitious and unScrupu-
lOuS prince or statesman would be an
swered by immediate fiery, popular de.
mandS for war.
Internally, the European countries
are very little disturbed. Civil wal has
been threatened in the new states Of
Servia and Bulgaria over governmental
problems, but the danger appears to
have passed. Anarchistic disturbances
in Italy have been suppressed.
In other countries the attempts OF
anarchists and other revolutionary dis.
turbers take the form merely of isolat.
ed crimes.
On the whole, the piping times of
peace" seem to have bee developed
somewhat UNEXPECTEDLY out of the uni
versal preparation for and menace of
war.