Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-18


Tended Wilhelm II by shaking hands with
England. We have far too much confidence
In the common sense OF our countrymen to
believe them capable of such insanity, and
we are convinced that any British govern
ment which attempted TO play the traitor
IN the event of wanton aggression upon
France would be swept away like chaff
before the wind, whatever its majority.
Public opinion on this subject was effec-
lively expressed by Mr.. Frederic Harrison
who is probably at the very opposite poiiti-
cal pole to ourselves In all other questions
two months ago in the pages OF the Posi-
Twist Review. In declining an insidious in
vitatfon OF those mischevous marplots, the
AngAo-German Friendship Committee. this
extreme radical pointed out that an or
ganization of the kind would tend to pro-
mote rather than prevent war. adding:
The French Yellow Book and the speeches
OF the prime ministers of the two countries
make II certain that the German govern
ment wantonly and deliberately menaced
France and even now seeks to humiiiate
anu enlbarrass her. and to attack her II IT
can be done without excessive risk. The
highly cultivated, peaceful and Industrious
German people are quite unable TO infiu-
ence their autocracy, and enusive compii-
ments between our people and theirs are
perfectly idle The only thing which can Sc
riously weigh with German militarism is
the knowledge that any wanton aggression
in France would be opposed by the whole
strength of England and l trust of other
powers united to curb the one powerful
autocracy left in Europe
Far be it from us to suggest what we
do not for one moment believe. that war
with France would be walk
In case over for Germany. The rela-
of War, tive beiligerent capacity of
the two powers is vastly diff
ferent from what 1t was In 1870 when
the French empire needless of all warn
ing. went to its doom. The modern Ger
man army is undoubtedly q magnificent
machine for European warfare. though Its
essays in other continents have not in
creased its prestige. but competent observ-
ers aver that 1t has distinctly deteriorated
since the spacious days of Won Room and
Moltke, while the dread lest Wilhelm II
should insist on being his own generalissimo
excites CONSERVATION in the great general
staff
THE French army has made immense
strides in recent years, and is acknowl-
edged to be stronger In some respects than
its protagonist. Moreover Frenchmen had
their warning nine months ago as to Ger
man Intentions and the interval has not
been wasted At the time of NJ. Delcasse's
enforced resignation France was thoroughly
peaceful and utterly unprepared Today
she is no less attached to peace but she is
fully prepared for war, and is both conf
dent of her ability to hold her own and
strong in the consciousness of Just cause
The German emperor is said to have
revised his earlier estimate as to a picnic
IN Paris and is now believed to waver be-
tween two minds. At one moment he is
almost talked over by the war marty m
another he hesitates
The single contribution which English
men can make to the cause Of peace is to
proclaim from the housetops In Season and
out of season, that in the event Of an I'M
provoked German attack on France the
British guns would go off of their own
accord.
THE German emperor's crusade against
the entente cordiale between France and
Great Britain has been in full
Wililam's swing during the past month
Object. His majesty is said to enter
tain great hopes of forming a
Potsdam party in our new and unsophisti-
Gated cabinet, as our readers are aware
solely for the purpose of Furnishing France
Tor closing her secular feud with this
country. William II, taking advantage OF
the temporary eclipse of Russia, brusquely
raised the Moroccan question nearly a year
ago. France, being taken completely I'M
awares, reluctantly agreed upon terms
whereupon German tactics changed. as Mo-
rocco was always a secondary object, the
main object OF the imperial intrusion being
to drive a wedge into Anglo French reIa-
lions, or, falling in that to induce France To
pay blackmail, euphemIsticallv termed
compensation by the Westminster Gazette
and other British newspapers which ought
to know better
Upon the two main points which form
the crux of the controversy, the financing
and policing Of Morocco, upon which the
French case is irresistible, Germany had not
budged an inch. Ii was suggested to French
publiciStS (BiSmarckian devIceS) that Great
Britain would be sincerely grateful if
France saw her way TO terminate the crisis
by making a graceful concession OF the port
OF Mogador to Germany, though our gov
eminent could hardly be expected to say so
openly. etc, etc. English journalists, on
the other hand, were inspired by the same
sources TO point out that the French gov
eminent would be delighted If England
would permit the concession of this desirable
port, etc. knaves will always make a living
out OF fools. 1t is rash to speculate to the
final upshot OF the conference. as Wilhelm
IFS mood varies from day TO day. Ii is TO
be hoped that in any case England and
France will jointly and severally resist the
impudent demand for compensa ton. A
German occupation of Mogador would i'm
peril French influence throughout Morocco,
ana Ii would afford Germany a naval sta
ton of incalculable value in those future
naval operations against England for which
she is preparing night and day"
X X
cablegram from WilheImshafen. the Ger
man military port, dated the 18th instant,
says that the Emperor Will
Revenge helm delivered a discourse to
for Jena. the marine recruits on the oc-
casion of their being sworn
into the service. The emperor told them
that not only the young soldiers should pre-
serve the memory of the great deeds of the
German people, but also the defeats which
they incurred by their own fault His
majesty reminded the young recruits of the
defeat of Prussia by the French In 1906.
He exhorted them to place their confidence
in God, adding that 1t was because of their
want of faith which was the cause of the
loss of that battle"
The writer recalls that in The Star of
the nth instant he quoted the impressions
of an officer of the French army, who said:
If my calculations are correct we may ex-
pect the German attack at the end of the
year Was the speech at Wilhelmshafen
to the young recruits, then a preparatory
lesson by which Wilhelm II proposes to
electrify his army with the cry of Re
venge for Jena?'
1t viii be one hundred yea rs on the 18th
of October. 1906. since the disastrous Prus-
sian defeat at Jena, where 10000 French
conquered rocco Prussians. the recollection
or which sits like some horrid nightmare
upon the soul Of Wilhelm II.
To avenge this disaster to Prussia one
hundred years old, Wilhelm II insisted upon
the conference at Algeciras, which might
AFFORD him an occasion for war, or give him