Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-12
THE EUROPEAN MILITARY SITUATION

The recent address of Prince Henry OF
Prussia, brother OF the kaiser. at a re-
union Of the 35th Regiment
Significant OF Infantry. has excited
ASS.>.. great interest in Europe,
'AASe'' the more so that the speak
er's well known conservatism and tenn
permanent is in marked contrast to the
volatility of the brother.
Because OF the interest there In Prince
Henry's speech. 1t may prove interesting
to cite the opening words.
Comrades" said the prince. II am
glad that you have not hesitated to spend
your money and time in responding to
my invitation. I am the more glad OF
this that We are living in a period full
Of gravity and political troubles Owing
to q peace Of forty years the German
empire holds situation respected by all
beyond her borders. II we have no
reason to fear the enemy without-for
every one in the universe fears Germany
we have every reason to be on our
guard against an interior enemy become
more and more menacing.'
This enemy which the prince did not
name. In the press reports, is socialism,
which has arrayed itself squarely against
the interior policy OF the government at
Berlin. and the danger is recognized in the
fact that the chancellor no longer refers
to Its partisans in the reichstag with
disdaln as the peril from below With
become political force which can no
longer remain unrecognized, except at
the risk OF preparing for the future grave
national receptions. AT every consuta-
ton OF the country the extreme left
gains in strength and authority.
4 II
those who have followed its course close
ly. owes its prodigious
SOCIALISM development to the fact
in Germany. that the leaders in the
administration OF gov
eminent have maintained a coalition Of
all the reactionary forces looking to the
administration Of public affairs to the use
and profit Of minority which does not
constitute the most productive element of
the nation.
Germany suffers actually from an ex-
cess OF conservatism and Of militarism
Berlin has lived upon the false idea that
the constant development Of the army
and navy was sufficient to guarantee the
German power against any evil surprise.
The result is that militarism has impov-
erished the German people despite the
prodigious industrial effort which has
been accomplished, and there 10 a deep
feeling of dissatisfaction that troubles
the social life Of the country.
Organized socialism has profited like
wis, by the spirit Of discipline which
characterizes the German people, and 1t
is due to this spirit that socialist group
ings have acquired such a formidable
power that they may follow their policy
methodically without being exposed to
the inconveniences. the sessions and in
discipline inherent in like societies in
other countries. Besides, socialism in
Germany has never been antipatriotic or
antimflitary, as in France.
In Germany Cancellation Is possible be-
tween the directing classes and the pro-
letariat, whose demands are reasonable
and equitable. In France. on the con-
trary, there can be no Cancellation be-
tween the socialism OF the extreme left.
because its device Is collectivism and
anarchy.
The Gazette de Cologne criticises Prince
Henry's speech by declaring that he
would do well to abstain from such man.
ifestations. and in referring to the re-
dictionary policy Of the imperial govern
ment it cites the profession of faith made
November % by Prof. Ernst Haeckel,
which was echoed throughout Germany.
He said:
-
Tho political reaction which has de-
veloped for twenty-five years in the Ger
man empire under the
Political reign Of what is termed the
n.4: new court becomes each
A~eoe'AoA' day more accentuated, and
aNIa Iop NJ
intellectual liberty and prosperity of our
dear country"
The review Das Freie Wort expresses
like sentiments in its February number
apropos Of the fortieth anniversary of
the German empire. The article shows
that the territorial unity OF Germany is
insufficient, because its moral unity does
not exist 1t shows that the most re-
doubtable army and the most brilliant
statistics do not prevent the people from
feeling i'll at ease. It reproaches the
Prussians with having continued to gov
ern Germany, and attempting to model it
in their image, when their only merit was
to possess in 1871 the necessary force to
bind together the sections of the German
state
Prince Henry. it appears. has seen that
things are overstrained in Germany and
the Das Freie Wort includes that the
empire Of the Hohenzollerns is approach
ing a very grave crisis.
The military situation in Europe, par
ticularly in England, Germany and
France is one of constant and urgent
preparation for war and the consequent
augmentation Of ornaments on land and
sea.
On the other hand the peace situation
would seem to be q forOrn hope but
that it's standard bearer is personality
OF mark. Baron d'Estournelles de Con-
slant. senator Of France and member of
ton. who is about to arrive in the United
States to preach the gospel Of the peace
of the world preached in vain by the
Master in the Sermon on the Mount.
The dispatch announcing his departure
from Havre for New York says that he
will urge the necessity Of preparing for
a further development of obligatory arbi-
the wisdom OF a Franco-German recon-
Citation based upon reciprocal conces-
sions with this accomplished" the
baron is reported to have said. 1.-The peace
OF the world will be assured and there
will be everywhere an enormous tighten
ing of public burdens"
The naval program OF Great Britain. &C,
cording to the Daily Mail. was recently
discussed by the cabinet and the ad-
miralty. and we are inclined to believe
that little regard. II any. was given the
peace propositions OF Baron d'Estour-
neles or The Hague court OF arbitration.
in which England processes to practice.
Mr.. MacKenna. first lord Of the admiral
ty demanded the inclusion in the naval
budget for 1910 1911 Of credits for five new
superdreadnoughts. Many members Of
the cabinet objected that four were suf-
ficient. Mr.. MacKenna. however. main
tanned that the minimum OF five had been
ill