Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-06
WILLIAM REAL SORE
Says That His Subjects Misun-
derStand Him.
AND so CAUSE HIM PAIN
Bread Prices Going Up-0utlook Is
Bad.
AGE LIMIT FOR WARSHIPS
Europe an Armed Camp During Past
Few Weeks-Girls in German
Universities.
AGE LIMIT FOR WARSHIPS

Special Cablegram to The Star.
BERLIN, October 5.-According to the
Frankfurter Zeitung the first demand in
connection with the naval program which
well be laid before the reichstag this fall
will be proposal for reducing the age
limit for battleships from twenty-five to
twenty years. This mea sure" 1t Is added
will, of course. increase the rate of con-
struction of a few ships" For the rest
the navy law will not be altered if only
because Admiral Won Tirpitz. the secretary
of state for the imperial marine, is pledged
to the principle that one battleship and
two cruisers ought to be laid down every
year. The navy estimates will have to be
materially increased in order to cover ad-
ditional expenditure for guns and torpe-
does. and. above ALL in consequence of the
increased displacement of the new large
ships of the navy. Naval works and forti-
ficatfons at the mouth of the Elbe and
along the coast of the North sea will also
have to be provided for But the financial
difficulties of the empire admittedly ham,
per the realization of these schemes Ac-
cording to official returns. published by the
Imperial Gazette. ordinary recurring ex
penditure for the navy during the financial
year 1906 exceeded the estimates by near
" So 10000, and homecoming expendl-
ture showed similar excess of $4,000.
Dear Meat and Dear Bread.
If last winter in Germany was one Of
dear meat. there is only too much reason
to fear that the coming season will prove
one of dear bread The prices of wheat in
the open market have risen 30 per cent as
compared with last September. and % per
cent as compared with April. Similarly.
rye, which, as is we'll known, Is the staple
bread flour among the middle and poorer
classes has risen 80 per cent compared
with the prices ruling twelve months ago,
and 20 per cent compared with April.
The corn yield by last years harvest was
ties and supplies from that source are
now extremely short. This export was
followed by a very severe winter and
late harvest. and the wretched weather of
spoiled the crops. The outlook is, indeed.
unpromsing. Finally. there exists great
fear that the potato crop will be short.
Emperor Williams complaint in his speech
at Munster that during the course of his
reign many people had Willingly and I'M
Willingly caused him bitter pain has Gre
ated a feeling of uneasiness In various
quarters. When a parsonage in his majes-
tvs exalted position publicly laments the
fact that he has been misunderstood. those
who have followed his lead are apt to Won
der where they are. It Is even suggested
that as the emperor went thus far he might
have become more explicit. That his mai
esty should ardently desire the confidence
of his people is held to be In the highest
degree natural. but 1t Is pointed out that
acts. not motives. determine public senti-
ment and popular Judgments. 1t Is an in
separable accident of the form of constitu-
tfonal government which prevails in Ger
many that personal understandings and
misunderstanding should play a part in
affairs of state. 1t is recalled to the en-
peror's credit that his majesty has not at
tempted to solve the social question by the
sword" but. on the other hand, has so
closely identified himself with the policy of
the government against. for example, the
social democracy. that some misunderstand-
ing as to the imperial motives In the first
instance was bound to arise.