Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-27
DEBATE ON THE NAVAL BILL WAS
ONLY A SHAM FIGHT.
MOTIVE. FOR THE INCREASE.
PARTLY THE POSSIBILITY OF WAR
WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
Partly, Also, to Make Neutrality Pos
sibla in the Event Of an Anglo
Russian War-Bismarck In
Good Health Ger
man Gossip.

Associated Press.) The debate In the
reichstag on the second reading of the navy
bill was only a sham fight, and It's accept
ance Is q foregone conclusion. The only
reason for the long drawn discussion was
to enable the members of the reichstag to
explain their position to their constituents.
The discussion was chiefly interesting to
outsiders from the fact that 1t threw light
upon the ideas underlying the scheme in the
minds of the promoters OF the measure.
Herr Bennigsen, the leader Of the national
Liberals. was so impressed with the i'm
portance Of the occasion that he departed
from his invariable practice and spoke from
the tribune. instead Of from his seat
He confirmed the view expressed in these
dispatches several months ago. that the in
crease in the strength OF the navy was
partly based on the possibility OF war be-
tween Germany and Great Britain, and
partly to enable Germany to maintain neu-
trality in the event Of war between Great
Britain and Russia. He said that naval
experts express the opinion that. after the
realization of the present scheme, a battle
in the North sea might be successfully
risked against even the strongest sea pow
er. Abiding to neutrality. Herr Bennigsen
said that, in the event of an Anglo-Russian
conflict in the Baltic. Great Brltain mikn.
be tempted to force 70 YAK SUES hs
Herr Bennigsen further remarked that
the progress made by Germany had ex,
cited the envy of others, her exports anu
imports. having. increased : mi hl;te3 n! mI bsS
increased only l milliard. This vast com
merce, he continued, must be protected. he
SIS 10000 suffered by Hamburg through
privateering during the Franco-britisn
war.
| cism of the bill, which, he declared. will
increase the imperial debt by 1so.0Oo.00
marks during the next seven years;
tablishment Of the s%eptennate principle was
the first step in the Introduction OF ao-
| solutism in all military questions.
The emperor and empress attended the
funeral Of the Duke of Talleyrand-Saganon,
| Thursday. His majesty's physicians ave
advised him to take an early course a.
| Homburg, and their ma1esties' therefore,
will go there on Tuesday.
On Friday the emperor, accompanied oy
sixty-six guests. left BremerhaVen on board
the Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse tor a cruise.
He returned to-day.
The sixtieth anniversary of Prince Bis
brated with great enthusiasm in various
parts of the country. The emperor sent MS
aide-de;camp, General Won f, SS m tha Vince 20
and he also t~elegrsphed to the prince from
Bremerhaven.
though his foot still compels him to use a
of his family and Intimate friends ana
The officers Of the Second foot guards. of
which regiment Prince Bismarck Is q Ia
suite, sent him a present OF q silver stasu-
cite Of a guardsman in the uniform OF 1913.
The prince Is highly amused at the almost
daily cable messages he receives from
answer, requesting his views on the loss
of the Maine or on the Cuban question.
He says he pays no heed to these requests.
"
The latest %absurdity is a duelinE chal-
1enge sent by a Berlin student to DR.. Co
tice and head of the board Of law examin-
ers. DR.. Going disciplined the student and
the latter sent his brother. an army of1cer.
ton with pistols, DR., Going refused to
meet the student. but the matter will have
to be submitted to a council of honor.
A curious departure has been inaugural
ed by the University of Freiburg, In Breis.
students attending the lectures there will
be insured against accidents within pre-
circts of the university. including gym
nastics, dueling or during excursions con-
Quoted by the professors.
There is a report current here that the
spain are to be submitted to the media
the foreign office and at the United States
Mr.. White says: VERY earnest assur-
ances have been given in the highest quar-
ters that the emperor did not make the re-
marks attributed to him relative to show
ing friendship for Spain in case Of a con.
fict with America, nor anything similar
to that. AS a matter Of fact. he does not
hold the sentiments attributed to him or
that subject"
The government will not admit American
fruitwaste into the Rhine district. as II
is said to be gravely injurins the jelly in
dustry.
The Cologne Gazette and other newspa.
pers severely blame the government fol
exceeding the authority given it by the
bundesrath in the fruit decree.
The Prussian minister of agriculture
Baron Won Hammerstein-Lexten. has Is.
sued an official report of the San Jose
scale, setting forth that recently number
nave been found in all stages Of develop.
ment on apples. He adds that it must be
presumed that German orchards and nur
series are already infected and he calls fol
immediate and general investigation of the
reports and the results.