Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-27
The Armed Pence.
Providence JournaID


To those who have thought the German
Emperor excessively ambitious and eX-
travagant. because he has been planning
a large increase in his navy, the report,
now confirmed, that no desires 10 add
Si0OO0OOO TO the budget Of 1878. 10 be
extended on new field artillery, must
seem almost startling. But the day OF
altogether new ornaments for land fight
ing is at hand, and, II anything, Ger
many's requirements in this branch OF
its defence system are more pressing than
those of any other government. II Is
NOW absolutely necessary that great
army should possess such batteries or
light and heavy field ordnance that IT can
enter battle inspired with great con-
ddence in the efficacy Of its mechanical
resources. Tho fighting on land IS mere
after to be as much contest u ma
chinery and engines as the conflict on the
sea.
And IL a recognition Of this fact by
Wilhelm III. does not indicate that that
SOVEREIGN e. fully determined to preserve
"a nacifc policy towards his rivals, then
the argument is failacious that peace Is
IN he maintained In Europe by arma-
ments alone. But. as matters stand
that is "A safe proposition. 1t Is now I'M
possible for one nation 70 obtain an en-
during superiority over another provided
son,s Sudden discovery does not enable
4, 10 manufacture a sufficient quantity OF
s,,n.rior arms for its entire military
rorce AZ an instants notice Mechanical
slxW Is so didused that such complete
changes i'm equipment can be made by an
nations with equal rapidity, and II mas
moi made such advances that the krupps
or the Canets turn out a new and ade-
ouate set of appliances without long
,'eriod Of grace. SO Germany and any
ptoor nation can hardly start out upon
y scheme Of refttlng before France or
pnssia comes ND abreast with it, Were
xvubaln II. a mailman, as some have
Thought him; or, If he trusted To divine
,,',,irstion 10 secure himself victory
aoafnst his foes. there might be. I'm all
..f.sor a fear lest he would scorn any
dIsrerences of armament between his
,roons and the French army. and break
ont INFO open war whenever he was
tennted TO crafty his ambition or his
cravings for fame.
uou many persons comprehend just
u,haf n will mean for Germany TO ex-
nend III 900 marks for the new Held
etns and for a rearrangement OF the ar
tillery branch of the service The Amer
leau army costs less than No,VOWo an
nually, the American navy about $1,000, :
ooO Germany's army and navy con-
sidered In the Imperial budget under the
Term defence" required total appro-
nriations of 632 $4,000 marks in the fiscal
YEAR lust closed. Reckoned In American
money. the sum called for by the En-
neror for new armament purposes IL
= trine over 100000. II he lays out no
more on either the army or the navy du-
ing 1859 than during 1865 The defence
item In the accounts. altogether aside
from tho sum referred 10. will amount
10 nearly sl5O0o00o0. But grant for
extra naval construction has already
been asked for. and will probably be
authorized, even II new Reichstag has
10 be elected 10 vote II. The amount
wanted for this purpose Is about $4,000 go.
Yet the naval appropriations will scarcely