The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-01
Demand May Be Made in the
ReichStag to Regulate
Speculation.
GERMAN ARMY MANEUVERS
Vast Numbers of Troops to Be
Assembled for the Amusement
of Emperor William.
copyrighted, 1895, by The United Press.I

BERLIN, GERMANY, Aug. 31.-The pro-
ceedings toward the close OF the Ger
man Catholic Congress which has held
its sittings in Munich this week lifted the
meeting above the level of the common
place, which otherwise prevailed through
out the session. The burning questions
under discussion were those concerning
Agrarian reforms, and the eloquent debate
of the terms of the proposals discussed
showed that the congress as body had
much keener feeling of sympathy with the
farm laborers and peasant farmers than
with the great landowners.
The speakers before the congress de-
nounced with equal vehemence the system
of usury, which is despoiling the farmers,
and the policy of the spectators, who are
making farm products the subject OF their
operations. 1t was suggested that State
interference in favor of the farmers and
against the spectators be demanded of the
German Government, but no practical pro-
posal in this direction was formulated.
If the Center (Catholic) party in the
Reichstag should carry out the sentiments
of the congress, coalition of that party
some points is certain. Among the pro-
iects thus far formulated, that of Herr Won
Pleetz, the Agrarian leader, now stands
first. 1t is in the shape of a demand for
legal prohibition of speculation in all kinds
of grain.
Herr Won Pleetz insists that great Ber-
lin firm, which has recently been engaged
in bulling wheat on the market, was able
to obtain, and did obtain, Government in
formation, which it made use OF as guide
in its speculative operations, and that it
also even obtained credit upon import
duties. The character OF this statement
will not hinder the Agrarians from making
public capital out of it until the officially
inspired newspapers are compelled to deny
it over and over again.
The unsubdued ferVor of the Agrarian
agitation is in strong contrast to the gen.
eral dizziness of international politics. The
forecast for the business of the next ses-
sion of the Reichstag indicates that among
the main topics of discussion in that body
will be proposals for the regulation of in
terest on loans, and agriculture and the
suppression of speculation.
The importance and magnitude of the
forthcoming great autumn maneuvers,
called the 'Kaiser Maneuvers" because of
the circumstance that the Kaiser in person
attends them and reviews the troops par
ticipating, is made clear by plain state
ment of figures. The South army, adj
vancing from the south and southeast, is
composed of the Third Army Corps and the
imperial guards, the latter with it's ordi-
ter battalions, as they are termed, filled up
to full battalions; the imperial guards
numbering, therefore, nine regiments of
infantry of rife guards, one of chasseurs,
eight regiments of cavalry, two regiments
of field artillery and one battalion each of
engineers and commissariat.
The Third Army Corps, leaving its skele-
ton battalions in the garrisons will num-
Der eight regiments of infantry of three
battalions each, or twenty-four battalions
of infantry, one battalion chasseurs, four
regiments of cavalry and two of field ar
tillery and single battalion each of en-
gineers and commissariat.
The total strength of the South army
amounts, therefore, to sixty battalions of
infantry and three of rifles and chasseurs.
twelve cavalry regiments, four artillery
regiments and two battalions each of engi-
neers and commissariat.
The North army, marching from the
east, north and northwest, is composed of
the Second and Ninth Army Corps.
The Second Army Corps will number
eight regiments organized like the guards
of four battalions each, or twenty-five bat
talions of infantry, four regiments of cav
airy, two regiments of field artillery and
single battalions of engineers and commits
sariat.
The Ninth Army Corps is composed of
eight regiments, each consisting of three
full battalions and skeleton battalion,
the latter being the much-discussed fourth
battalion. This amounts to twenty-four
full battalions and eight skeletons, in adj
dition to which the corps has chasseur
battalion, four regiments of cavalry, two of
field artillery and battalion each of engi-
neers and commissariat. The North army
will be therefore an aggregate of ffty-six
battalions and eight skeleton battalions of
infantry and one of chasseurs eight regi-
ments of cavalry and four of field artillery
and two battalions each of engineers and
commissariat.
To this great force are to be added two
regiments of railway troops and battalion
of balloonists. The total number of troops
to be gathered at this autumn's Kaiser
maneuvers is therefore as follows: In
fantry 116 battalions and eight skeleton
battalions; rifles and chasseurs, four bat
talions; cavalry, twenty regiments; field
artillery, eight regiments; engineers, four
battalions; commissariat, four battalions;
railway troops. 2 regiments, and balloon
lists one regiment. This will give a force
of about $4,000 men, $50 pieces of artillery
and $1,000 horses. The Kaiser's original
idea to Guido il numbers the famous gun
maneuvers under Francis Joseph in Hun
gary has to be abandoned because of the
cost involved.
An important part will be played by the
Little RAINBOW River, which forms the
boundary between Pomerania and Ucker-
mark. While of itself an exceedingly un-
important stream for miles its tributaries
spread over wide area OF swamps, form
ing broad ponds, which extend for dis
lance of fifty kilometers. Only two high
roads cross the swamp, all other parts be-
ing impossible, except for pedestrians.
The two hiphroads are twenty Kilometres