The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-26
GERMANY IS STILL LOOKING FOR WAR Colonel Gaedke Says Japanese
 Are Preparing ESTIMATE OF OUR ARMY German Officer Says America Has Far From Enough Soldiers To Defend
 Our Coast Notifications.
 The National Guard.
ESTIMATE OF OUR ARMY
BY MALCOLM CLARKE.

berlin, April 25.-The Berlin Tageblatt's military expert, Colonel Gaedlxe, who is exceedingly well posted on conditions in the Far East, having spent a long time there during the Russo-Japanese war does not believe in the peaceable inten- tions of Japan.
 In a recent article he emphasizes his belief that not only are the Japanese preparing for war against America but the American government is well aware of this and even the fact that Admiral Evans fleet will visit a Japanese port will make no difference.
 At the present time,' the colonel says, nobody knows where Admiral Evans will finally take his flee, but I for one am sure that the goal of his trip will be Manila and the Philippine waters. From this point the fleet will be able to threaten Japan and keep that country quiet. Sta toned at Manila it will be in a position to protect the American Pacific coast and prevent the Japanese from landing in the Philippines I have received information which seems to show that Japan is about to create a new important naval basis on the island of Formosa, where it's navy will be in an ideal position for the defense of the home country"
 
 The colonel shows that at the present time the tonnage of the Japanese navy amounts to 2S7,000 tons, besides the yes sels which were taken from Russia dur ing the recent war. Japan has F bat tleships and 12 armored cruisers carry ing IT heavy and 2S6 smaller guns. Against this the American fleet has tonnage of 416000 tons and l92 heavy and S96 smaller guns
 
 "But." the colonel says. "while the Jap anese navy is growing stronger every year the American navy must remain as It is at least until the Panama canal shall have been finished, which will probably take 10 years. Japan has plenty of ex- cellent docks and shipyards, while the Americans have only a few docks on the Pacific coast and it will take years before the works at Manila can be finished
 Money can do much but no amount of money is able to create an army. The United States has far from soldiers enough to defend her coast Notifications, and the 100000 men of the national guard are without any military value It is cas- ily seen then that should war break ont between America and Japan the Uni ted States can rely only upon its navy.
 Political conditions in the far east must overcome very great changes before we here in Europe will believe that Admiral Evans, fleet will return to Hampton Roads, At the present everything points to it's remaining in the Pacific ocean, The Austrian bishops are complaining that Pope Plus x is coming more and l more under the influence of Cardinal Merry De Val and that he is no longer all lowed to have anything to say in affali s of state. As a proof of the influence of the Spanish cardinal upon his holiness the Austrian bishops say that in August, l9Ol' when the Popes new decree regulating Catholic marriages was first communi- cated to them, they found it so compli- eated that they applied to the Pope and asked to postpone it's enforcement for an- other year, that is to say, until Easter, 1909.
 Pope Plus. who understood that it would take some time for the clergy to De- come familiar with the new order of things, readily promised to comply with the wish of the Austrian bishops and they went back to Austria satisfied. A short time afterward they were informed through the papal secretary of state that the postponement was mistake, and that the new decree would be in force from Easter this year.
 The Austrian bishops are now asking themselves whether in the future they should believe the Pope or the cardinal. and one of them said the other day: We have decided never again to ask the Pope for any favor, for when we are received in audience he will promise us everything we ask, but as soon as we have returned lome we are notified by the secretary of state that his promise means noth- ing.
 It looks very much as if the Czar and his government are endeavoring to stir up a war between Russia and Turkey this spring. The Russian conservative press daily publsl alarming re- ports showing that a conflict is inevit- able. All dispatches coming from the Caucasus state that the people of, that part of the country are greatly excited and furious against the Turkish spies who invade their country and stir up hatred against the Russian government.
 The general effect of these stories to some extent is to renew the old Russian anti-Turlxish feeling, and this, combined with the published reports of Turkish military papers, cause me to believe that war will come. There are people here, however, who insist that the whole thing is only an attempt of the Czar's gov ernment to distract the people from it's internal politics. There is absolutely no