Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-01-10
GERMANY GIVES
Bic WAR ORDER
GREAT PREPARATIONS FOR CON-
FLICT WITH FRANCE.
VIOLENT FEELING GROWS
Hostile Attitude of the Two European
Nations Becomes More and More
Pronounced-5oth Getting Well
Prepared for Trouble Growing Out
of Moroccan Dispute.

Berlin, Jan 4.-The railway admin
istration last week placed orders for
10000 freight cars, each capable of
carrying 40 soldiers, or to be utilized
for transporting war material, In or
der to insure delivery of these cars
by the middle of February so as to be
ready 10 move troops by the first of
March if necessary, all the car works
of Germany will be utilized and con
tracts distributed among builders in
Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and
Italy. 1t is stated that this is a meas
ure OF precaution in view of the extern
siye military arrangements going on
in France, which among other depo
sitions include a movement of six reg
iments of artillery, or $50 guns,
towards the German frohtier.
Neither the American ambassador
to France nor the like official at Berlin
could treat the situation which now
exists between France and Germany
in any report which could be pub
lished here without involving them in
trouble, Bat ii is believed that expla-
nation of the last German movements
is TO be found in the fact that last
July when the Morocco situation de-
veloped an acute phase, the French
general staff discovered that the en-
tire army. especially the transporta-
ton facilities, were not in a condition
justifying France in adopting an ag-
gressve attitude. So the negotiations
suddenly assumed a mild tone and
have dragged along up to this time
Meanwhile, the general staff went to
work TO correct the evils which had
developed, with the result that within
the last ten days it was discovered
that in the opinion of military experts,
the French army is in better condition
than in any period in its history. The
weakest point last summer was dis
covered to be in mobilization and this
has been strengthened so that vast
bodies of troops can be collected at
certain centers and transported to
frontier posts in an incredibly short
period of time.
1t is believed here by officials who
nave hepL ClOSC NdlCl Vi INC SlIud-
ton, that the Germans have likewise
been quietly and as far as possible
secretly increasing the efficiency of
their army. But when internal re-
sources failed in the matter OF produc-
ing a sufficient number of military
for the German government to go to
foreign countries for +he needed sup
ply, it was patent thu such an order
cDIld not be concealed. So to make
the best of the situation this news of
the placing of vast order for trans
portation material was boldly an
nounced from Berlin as an answer to
the French unofficial statements as to
the preparedness of France for mill
tary action.
America Not Committed
As to the part the United States is
to play in the approaching Moroccan
conference, it may be stated on the
90, Of authority that American dele
gates White and Gummere will go in
TO the conference absolutely uncom-
mitted to either the French or Ger
man contentious. The governments
view is that America has by virtue
OF her ancient interest in Morocco,
rights even superior TO those of any
European state in deciding the critical
questions which will come before the
conference. The basis of this state
ment is that America, single handed,
made war upon the Barbary states
wiped out piracy in Mediterranean
waters and concluded the first treaty
of any civilized nation with those
states a treaty which has formed the
basis of the demand of every other
nation for favored nation" treatment
at the hands of Morocco. So, from
considerations such as the perpetual
tion of the open door and fair trade
for all in Morocco. the United States
government feels it has right and
duty to participate in this important
conference. As to the question of
policing the Moroccan frontier, they
stand uncommitted either to the Ger
man position. which favors the crea
tion of an international police force,
or the French plan of employing Al
serian police for this purpose