The sun., 1903-09-09
VIII the German Army he Increased: ;:

of the composition of the new Relchstae
indicates that Chancellor Won BuELoW
will be able to secure majority for his
projected commercial treaties. The ma
jority is far from being homogeneous
however, and most, if not all, OF its ele-
ments may be expected to oppose the
| Government on non-cOmmerclal ques-
tons. Among these questions lis the ex-
pediency of increasing the permanent
peace establishment Of the German
Empire, which, according to telegram
from Berlin, the Emperor is determined
to demand.
According to the latest official reports
on file at the War Department in Wash
ington in December, 1902, the permanent
peace establishment of the German En-
pire comprises 6O4 ,26s men and officers.
1t is numerically superior to that OF
France, which is computed at 575,24s,
but it is smaller by more than 100000
men than that OF Russia, which reaches
the enormous total of 1,1ll,3S3. The
peace establishments Of the Austrian and
Italian allies Of the German Empire
amount collectively to only 5se,e7s, an
aggregate, it will be noticed, which is
smaller by nearly 10000 than the French
standing army.
1t is obvious. therefore, that, numer-
ically the peace establishments Of the
Franco-Russian League are stronger
by upwards of SAC, 900 men than are those
of the Triple Alliance. 1t is on this
ground that Kaiser WILLIAM II. has re-
solved to ask the new Reichstag for an
addition to the permanent military es-
tablishment of about $4,000 men, who are
to be organized into two army corps, thus
raising the standing army to about 643,-
900 officers and men. If this demand is
granted an increased annual charge Of
nine million dollars. exclusive of equip
ment, will be imposed on the German
people.
The preceding attempts to increase
the German army all proved intensely
unpopular, and to prosecute them sue
cessfully has severely taxed the resources
of the German Government. 1t is true
that in 1883 the Reichstag passed with an
approach to unanimity the Army Increase
bill, but at that time the old Emperor
WILLIAM l. lay dying, and the German
nation was willing to soothe his last
hours by self-sacrificing act. 1t was
then widely believed. moreover, that
Russia and Franco had conspired to
make an immediate attack upon the
German Empire, and it was notorious
that large fraction of the Russian army
had been massed on the German frontier.
In spite of the influence exerted by these
circumstances on the Reichstag it was
only after BISMARCK had delivered one
of his most eloquent and forcefu speeches
that Baron FRANCKENsTE1N, the leader
OF the Ultramontane Centre party, re-
nounced his opposition to the measure
and allowed it to pass.
More bitter and inhexible was the re-
sistance encountered by the second de-
mand for an increase Of the German
army, q demand embodied in the bill
which was introduced in the Rechstag
in November. 1892 Not only did the
Imperial Chancellor, General Count
CAPRIvI. who, as compared with Bis
MARCK, was persona grata to the Liberals,
exert himself to the utmost to obtain
supporters for the project but Kaiser
WILLIAM II. urged the need of it in a
speech from the throne, which, with
out being frankly bellicose, was we'll
calculated to create alarm and to rouse
German patriotism. Stormy scenes fol-
lowed in the popular branch Of the Ger
man Parliament, and on New Year 8
Day 1893, the Emperor, at reception
given by him to the principal Generals,
spoke very sharply about the attitude
of the Reichstag and declared that he
would crush the Opposition. Neverthe-
less, at the final vote on the bill, which
was taken May 6, it was rejected by 2l0
against 1872 Thereupon the Kaiser dis
solved the Reichstag and appealed to the
country Three days afterward, in a
speech to his Generals and staff officers
on the Tempelhof Field near Berlin, the
Kaiser emphasized the necessity Of the
proposed increase Of the army and ut
tered what was understood to be threat
that, should his demand be rejected by
the new Rechstag. he would govern
without Parliament The threat is be-
lieved to have made profound impress
sion. At all events, the general election
went favorably to the Emperor's wishes,
and on July Is the newly chosen Deputies
passed the bill.
In the Reichstag which has just been
elected it will be difficult to carry bill
still further increasing the army, even il
all Of the lO2 Centrists cooperate with the
II Conservatives in the support Of the
Imperial Government. They would still
fall 20 short of a majority. The missing
votes may be secured from the Depu-
ties representing the Husbandry Fed
Grafton and Peasant League from the
8 Anti-Semites and from the Poles
Alsatians and Glephs, who collectively
number 2s. II viii not be easy, however,
to secure assistance from the Alsatans
and the Poles will be found far less tract
able than they We're July Is, 1893 We
have here assumed, moreover that the
Government can count on all the Cen
trisls. whereas in the absence Of peremp-